Gay, Lesbian, Bi-Sexual, and Transgender (GLBT/LGBT)

 

Throughout Human Service various populations are in need of help. One such

population is the G.L.B.T which has a need for the community help and awareness. The

history of GLBT goes dating back to the ancient civilization. However, this population is

always at risk within its own community and surrounding. There are many issues,

symptoms of disorder, and stigma relating to this population which needs to be heard and

find a coping mechanism for them.

 

The GLBT faces many challenges over time, but as they age the challenges seem

to get harder. The members of this population face many health issue and discriminations

from the insurance companies. They do not get access to adequate health care, social

services, or affordable housing. The different changes in regulation and policy in

programs like Medicare and Social Security also affects million of the aging members of

GLBT. Many of the federal programs also lack to have an impact on the GLBT elders

and fail to care for their needs. The lack of support from the government force the elders

to go back into the closet and be isolated.

 

Federal laws view the marriage of gay and lesbian members different from that

of a normal married heterosexual couple. Social security pays benefit to widows and

widowers, but not to the surviving same-sex partners. This is a discrimination that this

population has to pay from its own government for being who they are. The Medicaid

regulation help protect the assets of a married couple when a spouse enters a nursing

home, yet no such protections is offered to the members of a same-sex marriage. Even at

an aging stage the GLBT member’s faces isolation from other elders and community. It

even came to a point where a basic right to die in the same nursing home is denied to

same-sex partners.

 

Service to the members of GLBT are limited and not available in most part of the

country. Services and advocacy for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender is growing

to demand the attention of policymakers and service providers, but this  is limited to

certain states and cities. Many family members also fail to protect this population because

of many different reasons. Many households refuse to help a person come out from the

closet because they are afraid of how they might be judged within their community.

Members of GLBT get lack of service from their own housing and community.

 

Discrimination takes place in the lives of transgender in a wide range of various

issues. Transgender faces discrimination in education, housing, employment, and public

transits. Majority of the time transgender hides the fact that they are in order to avoid

being unemployed. Being out in a school setting leads to facing being bullied on a daily

bases. Health care also affects transgender in many different ways. Discrimination also

takes place in a medical setting because of different views that leads to not caring for the

population need and that cause problems over a long time period. Discrimination within a

medical setting caused this population not to seek care when they are sick or injured.

Many different health systems also deny a person from getting health insurance if they

are transgender or bisexual.

 

According to Huygen (2006), “Several studies indicate that gay men and lesbians

are at greater risk for psychiatric morbidity than heterosexuals. Ramafedi and colleagues

found a higher risk for suicide attempts in lesbian, gay, and bisexual-identified youth,

with 28.1% of young bisexual/homosexual boys, 20.5% of young bisexual/homosexual

women, 14.5% of young heterosexual women, and 4.2% of young heterosexual men

reporting suicide attempts”. Symptoms of disorder for this population need to be

understood in order to prevent many serious mental illness and health issues. Anxiety

disorder is also a problem being faced by the same-sex partners. The thoughts about

suicide, committing suicide, attempting suicide among same-sex partner are all getting

higher.

I believe there are many unique needs for this population in human service. GLBT

need to have support dealing with understanding their problems and issues that are

endangering their lifestyle and basic rights. The need to advocacy for this population is

greatly important to their community and environment. Policymakers needs to have the

attention of GLBT to make laws that helps and protects the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and

Transgender population. There is a need to education not only the population, but also the

community to know the issues that are being faced by GLBT and how to help them break

barriers in order to cope with society.

 

Professional strengths that enhance effectiveness for professional practice are

multiculturalism and diversity competencies. According to Walter and Prince (2010),

“Furthermore, counselors who neglect to acquire knowledge, skills, and awareness in

working with LGBT are flirting with serious ethical breaches, including harm on

vulnerable client population” (p. 6). Advocacy and out reach to this population is also

important in helping the population breaking barriers. Creating programs that helps them

cope with daily needs and life is important to members of GLBT.

 

Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender population deal with stigma and

prejudice based on their gender identity and sexual orientation. According to Scheffer

(2003), “Stigma has many effects including feelings of low self-esteem, isolation, and

hopelessness. Stigma, in any form, is a serious impediment to the well-being of those

who experience it”. Myths in general understanding, causes and treatment, shame, and

somatization has a more impact on minority groups.

 

Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender have many more myths and facts about

their own sexual orientation. People who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender come

in many different shape, colors, sizes, and religion. Many can tell at an early age if they

are attracted to members of their own sex or not. No one is sure what causes particular

orientation. Being gay, lesbian, and bisexual is not as same as being transgender, but

many are comfortable with their own biological sex.

 

There might be a few set-backs in working with this population because reaching

out to them can be a problem. As a human service worker/counselor doing advocacy for

this population can lead to dead end. Lobbying and getting the attention of law makers

may take a long time and the process would sometime burn out the worker. The challenge

is to earn the trust of this population and show that there are agencies that cares and will

help provide service and resource to them. Helping them establish a working network and

having a program where they can be at ease will be a easy challenge to face.

 

There have been many significant trends occurring for this population in the last

ten years. In the year 2011, New York passed a law that allows same-sex marriage. During that

same time United States banned the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell in military.

Barack Obama became the first president to support same-sex marriage in May of 2012.

In the same year San Francisco voted to become the first U.S. city to provide and cover

the cost of sex reassignment surgeries for uninsured transgender residents. In 2013 the

state of Colorado passed the civil union/registered partnership law into effect.

Throughout the last ten years many states and countries passing laws that supports same-

sex marriage and fighting to end discrimination that are being faced by the members of

GLBT.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reference Page

 

Huygen, C. (2006). Understanding the needs of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender people living with mental illess. Medscape General Medicine. 8, 29.

Scheffer, R. (May 2, 2003). Addressing Stigma: Increasing Public Understanding of Mental Illness. Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. 4-6.

Walter, J. A., & Prince, T. (2010). Training consideration and suggested counseling interventions for LGBT indiviuals. Journals of LGBT Issues in Counseling. 4, 2-17.