Why Are LGBTQ Rights Important?

LGBTQ rights have come a long way, but there have also been setbacks. Discrimination, harassment and violence still breadths throughout the world even though there have been social and legal battles for the rights of the group. In this blog, you'll explore topics impacting the community, shed light on the present condition of LGBTQ rights, and increase your understanding of the difficulties faced by the LGBTQ community. So let's work together and create a more inclusive and just world. Also, check out this blog to have a better understanding of gender identity.

The meaning of LGBTQ

Being LGBTQ means dealing with discrimination daily in far too many nations. Your gender identity, sexual orientation, gender expression, or sex characteristics could all be the basis for discrimination. LGBTQ stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer or questioning, here are their general explanations:

• Lesbian: A woman who is attracted to a woman.
• Gay: A man who is attracted to other men. This phrase can also be used to describe those who identify as non-binary or genderqueer and are drawn to others so the same gender. 
• Bisexual: A person who is drawn to people of more than one gender. This can include men and women and people who don't fit the gender binary.
• Transgender: Someone whose gender identity differs from the gender they were given at birth. This can include people who, among other identities, identify as male, female, or non-binary.
• Queer: This term is frequently used as an umbrella term to refer to those who do not identify as heterosexual or cisgender. It is also possible to identify someone as queer.

Now let's discuss the difference between gender identity and sexual orientation:

• Gender identity - This is a person's internal perception of gender. The majority of people identify as the sex they were given at birth, regardless of how they feel about it. Individuals who identify as transgender, however, do not necessarily identify with the sex to which they were born.
• Sexual orientation - This refers to the gender or gender that a person finds attractive. A person who's attracted to the same gender is referred to as homosexual or gay, whereas an individual who is attracted to individuals of several genders is referred to as bisexual or pansexual.

What are LGBTQ Rights?

LGBTQ rights aren't something out of the ordinary or a new concept; they simply are basic human rights that are denied to the LGBT community just because of who they are and their gender expression. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning people are entitled to certain legal, social and political protections and liberties. These rights include the freedom from harassment and LGBTQ discrimination, the right to healthcare & education, the freedom to express one's sexual orientation & gender identity, the freedom to marry & start a family and the freedom to engage in political & social life without fear of persecution.

In many nations around the world, civil rights movements have placed a significant emphasis on LGBT rights. There is still a long way to go, despite significant progress, until all LGBTQ people are given the same legal rights and protections. In order to achieve this goal, multiple activists and organisations continue to promote policy reforms, offer assistance and resources to LGBTQ people, and spread awareness of LGBTQ issues.

LGBTQ: History

A constant war rages among LGBT people for who they love, their attire and, at the end of it, who they are. LGBTQ rights have a long and complicated history that has its roots in prehistoric civilisations. The modern LGBTQ rights movement, on the other hand, has its roots in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when various organisations fighting for the rights of gay and lesbian people first started to appear.

The Stonewall Riot of 1969 is largely regarded in the united states as a turning moment in the LGBTQ rights moments. Customers of the popular homosexual bar stonewall inn in New York City retaliated when police raided it with a series of protests and rallies that lasted several days. The LGBTQ community was inspired by the riots, resulting in the creation of numerous new organisations and advocacy groups. 

The LGBT rights movement persisted in growth during the 1970s and 1980s, with a special emphasis on legal and political challenges. The American Psychiatric Association delisted homosexuality from its list of mental disorders in 1973, which helped alter how the general public views LGBTQ individuals. When San Francisco politician Harvey Milk was murdered in 1978, the fight for LGBT rights received a new focus.

A new wave of activism that was concentrated on problems including workplace discrimination hate crime legislation, and marriage equality emerged in the 1990s. In 2003, the US Supreme Court overturned state laws that made sodomy illegal, giving LGBTQ rights activists a significant victory.

LGBTQ rights have recently become more widely accepted, with an increasing number of nations legalising same-sex unions and establishing additional LGBTQ protections. To guarantee that everyone is treated with decency and respect, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, there is still work to be done around the world where prejudice and violence against LGBTQ people still exist.

The current state of LGBTQ individuals 

The LGBTQ people have been treated unequally and this treatment is vast and damaging, ranging from facing LGBTQ discrimination in school & being denied jobs to healthcare services. LBGTQ people are far too frequently harassed, beaten up, and sometimes kicked on the street in front of an audience just for being who they truly are. Between October 2017 and September 2018, a wave of violence against trans people took the lives of at least 370 people. Multiple people around the world are forced to have utterly unwanted and risky procedures that may create long-term psychological and physical negative effects making the rights of the LGBTQ community a dire need.

Why are LGBTQ rights important?

In today's technologically driven world, where most of the population is literate, we know the kind of battles we face on a daily basis, and everyone deserves to feel proud of who they love and who they are. As per the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 19 guarantees our right to express ourselves freely by giving us the right to freedom of opinion and expression, so being able to express yourself freely should be encouraged no matter who you are. Putting an end to homophobia and transphobia is vital as it can literally save lives. When people are harassed or discriminated against for being LGBTQ, they are highly likely to be physically and mentally harmed. But as humans, don’t we all deserve to feel safe and free?

It is only when we embrace and understand the identities of LGBT people we can break free from gender stereotypes that limit us all. These stereotypes hurt everyone by forcing people to live in a narrow box that doesn't fit who they really are. Solely by eliminating these limitations, everyone can live their best lives without LGBTQ discrimination in a humane way. Unfortunately, LGBTQ people, particularly those who are transgender or gender non-conforming people, often face economic and social challenges. Fighting for laws that are more inclusive of all sexual orientations and should allow people to access their basic rights to things like education, healthcare, housing and employment, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. 

Advances towards LGBTQ Equality

Many countries have improved the LGBTQ community's human rights protection in recent years through the following measures: 

1. The legalisation of same-sex relationships.
2. Establishing laws prohibiting LGBTQ discrimination.
3. Pursuing justice for those responsible for hate crimes driven by homophobia, biphobia, and transphobia.
4. Recognising same-sex couples and enabling transgender people to get identity documents that accurately represent their preferred gender without being subjected to oppressive criteria.
5. Establish training initiatives for law enforcement, prison personnel, educators, social workers, and carers to serve the LGBTI community better.
6. Measures to fight bullying in several schools.

It is crucial that we keep fighting for equality and respect for all people, regardless of their gender identity or sexual orientation, as the fight for LGBTQ rights is still ongoing. It is our duty to increase knowledge of the problems the LGBTQ community faces, to foster understanding of them, and to work for social and legal changes that will guarantee their full and equal rights. Dont forget to check out LGBTQ mental health challenges. Let's work together to create a world where everyone can live freely and truthfully without worrying about bias or discrimination. Also, check out this blog to know all the bizarre LGBTQ myths.