Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender and queer (LGBTQ) community have become a broadly recognized designation for minorities based on gender and sex positioning. Members of these subdivisions have been subjected to comparable prejudice originating from traditions and beliefs about gender and sexuality. Like other nations, the US LGBTQs are suffering from social-economic and cultural injustices that affect the victims and their families at large. These families face many problems, including discrimination, harassment, violent threats, intolerance, to mention but a few. All these issues should be addressed in a just manner in the US to ensure these families fit into society and enjoy equal rights. In tendency for this, it is essential to analyze issues faced by such families in the community and thus provide recommendations on approaches to adopt during counseling sessions of LGBTQ families.
LGBTQ families face tremendous problems in a society where heterosexualism is the only good routine and homosexuality is deviant. These families face discrimination and disadvantage regarding social protection schemes like pensions and healthcare. These families are often viewed as a different species hence face abuse and homophobic violence in the US (Roberts & Christens, 2020). Most LGBTQ families endure harassment, while others chose to hide their sexual positioning in fear of losing their jobs in the labor market. This is a significant problem for homosexual families in many US states.
Same-sex couple families are mostly the hate crime victims. Common stigma results in aggressive feelings of hatred towards LGBTQ families. They are always the targeted victims of hate, violence, and crimes, with most people being people of color. Homophobic environs push such families to withhold their identity due to the adverse reactions that inform physical attacks or homophobic jokes. They could also end up being prejudiced.
Additionally, adoption is also another issue encountered by US homosexual families in many states. Each state has set its restrictions behind adoption since this process requires a closely monitored procedure to ensure that proper parenting will be given to the adopted child. However, LGBTQ faces significant challenges in parenting since many adoption agencies try to argue that both fatherly and motherly love is crucial in bringing up a kid. These “child-giving” agencies advocate for proper parenthood that consists of both males and females. Since they are of one gender, they might be under unfavorable surveillance to adopt a child or even be denied the right to adopt one. However, this could cause distress and lower the victim’s self-acceptance because their treatment as inferiors is due to their sexual orientation.
US LGBTQs come across many issues that have significant impacts even on the family. Their problems affect them and anything related to them, like their families or jobs. These families lose jobs at their workplaces, or their businesses can also be shut down due to vague legal claims. Typically, this happens because one cannot withhold their sexual orientation any longer, or one can be fed up with the discrimination and harassment at the workplace or from the legal authorities. LGBTQ families could also be denied access to given services since they are not aware of what they are entitled to, like specific insurances or pensions. Social exclusion and marginalization are other impacts experienced by homosexual families. These families are denied their social rights and even mobility to a particular area. Hence same-sex families experience psychological torture causing distress that could cause diseases like high blood pressure.
Homosexual families encounter various social-economic, religious, and political problems; hence, they should be entitled to multiple counseling strategies to handle these problems. Ideally, one should get involved with the issue, familiarize with it and strive for social change and justice. Reflect on areas of our own beliefs and attitudes towards them, which ought to be biased. Creating an affirmative setting, providing LGBTQ-friendly reading articles and resources will make the victims feel secure. One should never make heteronormative assumptions and should always consider the victims’ opinions. Advocating to challenge heterosexualism can also motivate same-sex families because this provides legit evidence for their support. This helps LGBTQ families to open up and feel fit in society. According to Earnshaw (2020), such families’ counseling gives them proper pro-active preparedness for the forthcoming issues and how to handle their impacts especially in schools. Educate LGBTQ same-sex on the difference between gender identity and sexual positioning.
Psychodynamic counseling can be adopted during counseling sessions since it involves establishing a solid alliance between LGBTQ individuals. The ultimate counselor essence is to help LGBTQ families develop the psychological tools needed to handle difficult situations and feelings, such as discrimination, rejection, and seclusion from society (Bojarski & Qayyum, 2018). LGBTQ individuals who have undergone this counseling approach tend to develop psychological complications and overcome any psychological issues due to their sexual nature.
To sum up, this research proves that LGBTQ families face various problems, with the most common being discrimination, rejection, and psychological distress. This has tremendous impacts on individual victims and their families in their daily activities. Several counseling strategies like educating homosexuals on the importance of accepting their sexual orientation are crucial. Thus, LGBTQ families will thrive freely and peacefully in society.
References
Bojarski, E., & Qayyum, Z. (2018). Psychodynamics of suicide in lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender youth. Journal of Infant, Child, and Adolescent Psychotherapy, 17(3), 178-186. Web.
Earnshaw, V. A., Menino, D. D., Sava, L. M., Perrotti, J., Barnes, T. N., Humphrey, D. L., & Reisner, S. L. (2020). LGBTQ bullying: a qualitative investigation of student and school health professional perspectives. Journal of LGBT youth, 17(3), 280-297. Web.
Roberts, L. M., & Christens, B. D. (2020). Pathways to well‐being among LGBT adults: Sociopolitical involvement, family support, outness, and community connectedness with race/ethnicity as a moderator. American Journal of Community Psychology. Web.