Despite the fact that many cultures have made tremendous progress in human rights advocacy, the LGBT community continues to face discrimination. They face discrimination in the workplace, in schools, and in hospitals, and are mistreated and abandoned by their own relatives. They are targeted for physical abuse, including being beaten, sexually abused, tortured, and killed.
The deeply embedded homophobic and transphobic attitudes, often combined with a lack of adequate legal protection against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, expose many lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people of all ages and from all walks of life to egregious human rights violations, some of which are discussed below.
Marginalization
LGBT people may face numerous forms of marginalization, including racism, sexism, poverty, and other problems, as well as homophobia and trans phobia, all of which have a severe influence on mental health. Many LGBT people are pushed to the edges of society due to the stigma linked to sexual orientation and gender identity or expression that differ from the assumed heterosexual, non-transgender norm. This marginalization typically removes LGBT individuals from numerous support structures, including their own families, leaving them with limited access to medical care, justice and legal services, and education that many others take for granted.
Homelessness
The absence of housing and resources that suit the needs of LGBT individuals who are homeless is one of the many issues they face. According to estimates, 40-50 percent of homeless children on the streets of New York City identify as LGBT. They stay there because they were evicted from their homes for being part of the community, or because they fled abusive circumstances. For homeless same-sex couples, there is no family lodging in the shelter system across the country. In the shelter system, transgender people are not allowed to pick which gender they like to live with.
Rejection
When someone has a problem, they can usually turn to their family for help. They know that no matter what hardships they face, their relatives would love them unconditionally and stand by them. Many LGBTQ persons, on the other hand, are not so fortunate. Mothers, fathers, and other family may be unaware of their sexual orientation. Their relatives may shun them, refusing to speak to them or connect with them. This not only increases the risk of psychological disorders but also physical illnesses.
In order to save people from all this trouble and distress, Todd Emerson, who also belongs to this community, stood up and have made several contributions towards ending this inequality.
Todd Emerson and his contributions
In 1993, Emerson organized the first ‘Ocean Springs Pride March,’ for which he received a great deal of hate and death threats. Despite this, Todd remained steadfast, and within a year, he opened the GL Friendly facility in Biloxi to serve the LGBTQ population.Queer people are frequently assaulted and brutalized, and to counteract this inhumanity, Todd Emerson has partnered with organizations such as the Mississippi Gay and Lesbian Task Force. He is one of the most well-known activists today.
Because of the efforts of many organizations and people such as Todd Emerson, LGBT rights are becoming more widely accepted around the world, and governments in certain countries are beginning to pass legislation supporting LGBT rights and anti-discrimination laws which is exactly what’s needed.
