Introduction
Human rights are defined as the fundamental freedoms to which every human being is entitled. Such freedom is inherent in all humans and is not contingent upon factors such as religion, race, sex, or socioeconomic status. The law often protects human rights to ensure that the rights are respected and fulfilled, particularly the right to life, education, food, and equal and fair treatment.
However, some human rights can give rise to conflicts or issues when viewed from a moral perspective. They are highly debatable, and people often pick sides based on their beliefs and societal norms. One such controversial issue, fast gaining global attention, is LGBTQ rights (Cargas and Glenn 276).
Over the years, numerous cases of lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgender, and queer people being discriminated against or abused have been reported, raising severe concerns. Such violations have denied these individuals the peaceful enjoyment of their sexual orientation and gender identity. Considering the significance of these rights to all human beings, this paper addresses this situation, including the measures taken and the steps needed to eliminate them.
Situation
The LGBTQ community consists of lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgender, and queer individuals. These humans are mainly homosexual as opposed to heterosexual, which is considered the norm. As the queer theory states, “Heteronormativity presumes and privileges heterosexuality”(Pollitt et al. 522). Nonetheless, the group majorly encompasses two categories of individuals within it – sexual orientation and gender identity.
While lesbians, gays, and bisexuals lean toward sexual orientation, transgender and queer individuals lean toward gender identity. For example, a person born as a male but wanting to identify as a female is called a transgender person, and a person unsure of what gender they want to identify as is known as queer. On the other hand, gays are males who are sexually attracted to each other, lesbians are females who are sexually attracted to each other, and bisexuals are sexually attracted to both genders. This statement of facts shows that some human beings may have a different sexual orientation and gender identity from the norm.
Problematic Nature
Since the LGBTQ community is different from the norm, they tend to be viewed negatively, which causes problems regarding human rights. They face a major legal challenge as their existence is questioned simply because of their unusual stance. As Cargas and Glenn put it, “Even though most law courts worldwide may recognize LGBTQ as a human right, they often receive backlash from churches and governments” (275). Hence, LGBTQ persons worldwide continue to face many challenges as they have to contend with discrimination, abuse, violence, and death.
For instance, The New York Times magazine reported that a gay bar was terrorized in Manhattan, leaving two gay men dead (Stack). As law enforcement said, “The killings were financial, but the murders nevertheless terrorized the city’s LGBTQ population” (Stack para 3). Regarding discrimination, there is a growing body of evidence showing that the current workplace environment is unfair to those who expressly hold such identities. Most of them find it challenging to get hired, while those who get such employment opportunities are quickly fired without cause or denied promotions because of the immoral view that their identities draw. A 2021 survey by the Center for American Progress reported that nearly 46% of LGBTQ workers faced unfair treatment at their workplaces in America (Cargas and Glenn 276). A similar case is also observed in most healthcare institutions, where these individuals are profiled and denied proper and immediate healthcare, despite this being a fundamental right.
Furthermore, these persons get targeted for violent crimes such as physical assault, rape, death threats, and murder. Numerous studies have reported a 50% chance that every gay man and transgender person will experience such acts directly or indirectly at some point in their lives (Cargas and Glenn 276). Such cases are rampant online, where those who choose to identify themselves under the LGBTQ umbrella receive hate comments, threats, and backlash. These instances represent the miserable lives these individuals live while raising contention as to the global legalization of the group.
Measures Taken
Despite the triviality of the issues surrounding LGBT people, much effort has been put into making their rights recognizable and respected. This is because all human beings have the right to express themselves and live freely without discrimination and violence, regardless of their status (Wilson 599). The measures have been primarily driven by the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), which enshrines the rights and freedoms of every human being worldwide.
To address the LGBTQ rights issue, the UDHR decriminalizes same-sex relationships and includes LGBTQ rights under fundamental human rights that should be protected by law. Article 1 of Chapter 1 of the Declaration states, “Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms outlined in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind” (Wilson 601). Additionally, it considers the rights to equality, liberty, life, and freedom from discrimination, torture, and degrading treatment. Furthermore, resources have been provided across different countries to ensure that there are LGBTQ activists who advocate for the community’s rights and raise the necessary awareness (Wilson617). This shows that efforts are being made across the globe to fight for the rights to sexual orientation and gender identity.
Bringing More Attention to the Situation
One of the most effective ways to bring more attention to LGBTQ rights and to stop discrimination and violence is through educating people on human rights. General education on the violation of rights will help a considerable number of people to understand that the LGBTQ community is also human beings and that violating their rights is like denying them their basic needs (Cargas and Glenn 278). People should also be educated about the existing laws that protect the rights of LGBTQ persons. This way, they will know the consequences of violating these laws and be encouraged to support LGBTQ human rights.
In addition, governments can play a significant role in creating and promoting a culture that includes LGBTQ individuals by supporting the rights of all human beings. For example, schools, hospitals, and workplaces should be safe places for LGBTQ individuals by holding everyone accountable for ensuring the well-being and safety of one another (Cargas and Glenn 281). Therefore, more attention can be brought to upholding LGBTQ rights by educating people on human rights and creating a culture that supports these rights.
Conclusion
In conclusion, every human right needs to be protected. Regardless of a person’s gender identity or sexual orientation, it is their right to live freely without fear of discrimination or violent attacks. LGBTQ persons experience a lot of discrimination in schools, workplaces, and healthcare institutions, which is wrong. No human being should hide and avoid being authentic to themselves just to fit in. Every human being deserves the freedom to express themselves in the sexuality and gender that they want. Hence, people should respect, defend, and support the LGBTQ community as they are humans and have the right to be treated equally and fairly.
Works Cited
Cargas, Sarita, and Glenn Mitoma. “Introduction to the Special Issue on Human Rights in Higher Education.” Journal of Human Rights, vol. 18, no. 3, 2019, pp. 275–279.
Pollitt, Amanda M., et al. “Heteronormativity in the Lives of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Queer Young People.” Journal of Homosexuality, vol. 68, no. 3, 2019, pp. 522–544.
Stack, Liam. “Man Arrested in Killings That Terrorized Manhattan Gay Bars.” The New York Times, 2023.
Wilson, Tamfuh Y. “The United Nations Declaration of Human Rights 1948: Successes and Challenges.” African Journal of International and Comparative Law, vol. 30, no. 4, 2022, pp. 599–618.