Daily Rantics

Assignment 1: Theoretical Exploration of Oppression - LGBT Oppression in Canada

The people in the LGBT community have long since been oppressed by our society and still continue to experience societal heterosexism to this day. If this continues to occur it could have a lasting effect on the gay community, especially the youth currently exploring their sexual identification and if we do not start making changes it could result in more gay teen suicides.

Canada is considered to be one of the most advanced societies in the Western hemisphere with respect to the gay rights movement (Hopkins, 2008), allowing gay and lesbian couples to marry in all provinces across Canada since 2005 and also awards the same rights and freedoms to gay couples in regard to marital disputes, divorce, child support, Canada Pension Plan and employee benefits as heterosexual couples would be entitled to. It is true that if contrasted against the rather sparse and unrepresented LGBT faction in the United States as a whole, Canada shines like no other, but some would argue that the idea of rights for the LGBT community looks nice on paper but the fact of the matter is years of oppression, marginalization and living in a heterosexist world have left the gay community fighting to keep gay youth safe both mentally and physically. With the rash of recent suicides committed by gay teenagers across North America it is clear to see that the oppression this community faces is becoming an unavoidable issue and must be addressed.

Oppression

According to the book Doing Anti-Oppressive Practice (Burns, D. 2007 p. 2) “Oppression takes place when a person acts or a policy is enacted unjustly against an individual or group because of their affiliation to a specific group. This includes depriving people of a way to make a fair living, to participate in all aspects of social life or to experience basic freedoms and human rights. It also includes imposing belief systems, values laws and ways of life on other groups through peaceful or violent means. Oppression can be external, as in the examples above, or internal, when groups start to believe and act as if the dominant belief system, values and life way is the best and exclusive reality. Internal oppression often involves self-hate, self-censorship, shame and disowning individual and cultural realities.”

The depth to which the LGBTTTIQQ community has been oppressed cannot be merely documented in a few short paragraphs. In Canada alone, before the 1980’s being gay was actually a chargeable offence resulting in death or life in prison and was also deemed to be a “mental illness” by the DSM-II up until 1973 (Spitzer, 1981).

In recent times the gay community has been rocked by violence, hatred and extreme oppression in the form of many unsolved murder investigations totaling 6 unsolved gay men murders in Toronto alone since 2001, the most recent happening in March 2011. (Mills, 2011). Safety of the gay community is absolutely paramount and by feeling they are in danger some find themselves afraid to venture out after dark, or alone, which is limiting them from enjoying the lives that others take for granted.

The fight to keep Gay Straight Alliances out of schools has also become a cause for concern as well noting that the Catholic District School Boards in Ontario are refusing gay teens the outlet of expression through GSA clubs. The light beyond the tunnel though is that some Catholic school boards in the region are recanting their refusal to allow GSA clubs, but in the form of SIDES an acronym for safety, inclusivity, diversity and equity in place of GSAs simply because they do not like the word “Gay” (Houston, 2011). In refusing the word “Gay” they are again limiting the rights of the gay community by simply not allowing them to identify themselves as who they are. The crossroads between Freedom of Religion and your basic human right to be gay is a very messy and touchy subject. You cannot make everyone happy because in one time or another someone’s toes are going to be stepped on, so is the contradiction of the human rights code.

It is the act of oppression that makes the youth in the gay community feel ostracized, marginalized and inadequate. They sometimes feel that they do not add up and that they never will. This kind of thinking leads to thoughts of suicide and sometimes attempted and successful suicide. At least 16 studies using convenience samples have reported rates of suicide attempts ranging from 20% to 53% (McDaniel et al., 2001; R. C. Savin-Williams, 2001)

Despite differences in rates, convenience-sample studies have found higher rates of suicide attempts among LGBT youth compared to heterosexual youth participants, especially among males (Goldsmith & Institute of Medicine (U.S.). Committee on Pathophysiology & Prevention of Adolescent & Adult Suicide., 2002; McDaniel et al., 2001; R.C. Savin-Williams, 2001).

Marginalization

According to the book Doing Anti-Oppressive Practice (Burns, D. 2007 p. 73) “Marginalization refers to the context in which those who experience inequality, injustice and exploitation because of their social location live their lives. It includes not just experiences of discrimination and lack of access to resources but also everyday experiences of being seen and treated as “less than”.

I have experienced the ups and downs of a close friend struggling with her sexual identity and living her life as openly gay. I can recall a simple shopping mall stroll with my husband, my friend and her partner, each couple holding hands and sharing conversation in the most normal way possible. But I could not help but notice the stares and vicious conversations going on as we passed the food court. There were people shaking their heads and furrowing their brows in disgust. It was at that moment I wondered if they were staring at me, if I was somehow distastefully dressed or impeding their lunch break. I later pieced together what was really happening, my friend and her partner being ostracized, quietly, but ostracized nonetheless.

My friend also told me of the woes within her community dealing with marginalization and ostracizing their own. She recounted the many stories she had heard from her other openly gay male friends, about a man’s distaste with another gay male and his effeminate nature (Roberts, 2011).

The LGBT community as a whole has been marginalized for many decades but within the community no other group receives more marginalization than gay men, particularly effeminate gay men. Not only do effeminate gay men experience marginalization on a societal level, they are also affected within their peer group as many other gay men will marginalize effeminate gay men most likely because they experienced stigmatization and marginalizing themselves earlier in life stemming from their own effeminacy (Taywaditep, 2001).

Ms. Roberts also told me on occasion that it is the marginalization that makes her feel less than adequate in society and that she feels the reason gay youth resort to suicide is because they feel inadequate within themselves, their community and their families. (Roberts, 2011).

Societal Heterosexism

Heterosexism is a term that describes an ideological system that denies, denigrates, and stigmatizes any non-heterosexual form of behavior, identity, relationship, or community (Herek, 1990). Using the term heterosexism highlights the similarities between antigay opinion and other forms of prejudice, such as racism and sexism.

In our society we have been taught that the world runs as both male and female together. Extension cords have both male and female parts, marriage is for male and female couples only, pink or blue, and finally Adam and Eve only.

Gay youth are coming out in a world where they are destined not to fit in. They go against “nature” according to society. They are sexually born into this world with adversity and unconformity at their backs and without community support and family support the likelihood of them succeeding and being healthy and productive is not high. The LGBT community when brought together can be a strong and accepting society, where you can feel appreciated and safe. Victimhood is not meant to come from this paper, as the old saying goes “strength in numbers” such is the fact that children that are supported are much more likely to succeed ( A Place of Our Own: Social & Emotional Development). The gay community is strong and essentially a community within a hostile community, but they need to know they can walk through a busy shopping mall with their partner hand in hand without being disrespected, or apply for survivor benefits when their partner dies without being met with malice and disrespect, all things heterosexuals take for granted.

Unintentional heterosexism happens everywhere. Even in the school classroom. A teacher may assume each of her students will bring a guest of the opposite sex to the school dance, unintentionally making the child that does not identify that way feel different and out casted. Even in daily life, when meeting someone new you may ask a new female friend if she has a boyfriend or husband, assuming she is of heterosexual nature, meaning no harm or judgment, but coming across as you do. This is because we are living in a society which is heterosexual in nature. As a society we need to realize that not everyone fits the “typical norm”, the ideal of the society we have been raised in and are shaped by.

In conclusion, LGBT youth need to have a strong support structure both at home and at school. In an ideal world we would be accepting of others differences and embrace each other the way that man was meant to do, but this society we live in does not always meet the needs of everyone. A bigger presence on television, the internet and in schools is a great way to get the ball rolling on eradicating homophobia for good and to help our LGBT youth come to terms with the society they live in and to provide them with the tools to fight back and to take a stand against heterosexism and oppression.

References
A Place of Our Own: Social & Emotional Development. (n.d.). Homepage. Retrieved June 1, 2011, from http://aplaceofourown.org/topic.php?id=4
Baines, D. (2007). Introduction--Anti-Oppressive Social Work Practice: Fighting for Space, Fighting for Change. Doing anti-oppressive practice: building transformative, politicized social work (p. 2, 73). Halifax, N.S.: Fernwood.
Goldsmith, S. K., & Institute of Medicine (U.S.). Committee on Pathophysiology & Prevention of Adolescent & Adult Suicide.(2002). Reducing suicide: a national imperative. Washington,
D.C.: National Academies Press.
Herek, G. M. (2000). The psychology of sexual prejudice. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 9, 19-22.
Historical Background of Homosexuality. (n.d.). CSQ. Retrieved June 2, 2011, from www.csq.qc.net/sites/1676/documents/english/rappel_historique_ang.pdf
Hopkins, L. (2008, November 29). Top 10 Gay Friendly Places to Live: Countries Where Gays and Lesbians Have Equal Rights. Suite101.com: Online Magazine and Writers' Network. Retrieved May 20, 2011, from http://www.suite101.com/content/top-10-gay-friendly-places-to-live-a81257
Houston, A. (2011, January 19). GSA ban lifted by Halton Catholic school board. Xtra. Retrieved June 1, 2011, from http://www.xtra.ca/public/Toronto/GSA_ban_lifted_by_Halton_Catholic_school_board-9661.aspx
Kaufman, G. (2010, September 30). Tyler Clementi Suicide Puts Bullying In Spotlight - Music, Celebrity, Artist News
MTV . New Music Videos, Reality TV Shows, Celebrity News, Top Stories
MTV. Retrieved June 3, 2011, from http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1649057/tyler-clementi-suicide-puts-bullying-spotlight.jhtml
Makarenko, J. (2007, January 1). Same-Sex Marriage in Canada
. Mapleleafweb.com
Canada's Premier Political Education Website!. Retrieved May 28, 2011, from http://www.mapleleafweb.com/features/same-sex-marriage-canada
Mills, M. (2011, March 6). Gay man murdered in Toronto. Xtra . Retrieved June 4, 2011, from http://www.xtra.ca/blog/national/post/2011/03/06/Gay-man-murdered-in-Toronto.aspx
Roberts, Nicole. Personal interview. 21 May 2011.

Savin-Williams, R. C. (2001). Suicide attempts among sexual-minority youths: Population and measurement issues. J Consult Clin Psychol, 69, 983-991
Spitzer, R. (n.d.). The diagnostic status of homosexuality in DSM-III: a reformulation of the issues -- Spitzer 138 (2): 210 -- Am J Psychiatry. The American Journal of Psychiatry. Retrieved June 1, 2011, from http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/abstract/138/2/210

Taywaditep, K. J. (2001). Marginalization among the marginalized: Gay men's anti-effeminacy attitudes. . Journal of Homosexuality, 42(1), 1-28.

http://www.slapupsidethehead.com/tag/studies/

By Kala Bennett-Alexander

I AM ROTTED! WHY DID I EVEN WATCH THE NEWS TODAY! UGH
When are you Conservatives going to realize that putting more people in jails, paying $100,000 dollars PER INMATE PER YEAR, building more jails and repeatedly producing REPEAT OFFENDERS instead of rehabilitation is not the way to combat crime! We need to find the root CAUSES, which are POVERTY and POOR EDUCATION! Not more police AND LESS SOCIAL PROGRAMS!
Did you know that in the late 1800's in the beginning of social services the church and government decided who was "worthy" of charity? Did you know that the Church didn't want to help the disabled and disfortunate because they saw their afflictions AS PUNISHMENT FOR SINS FROM GOD?! Thankfully we know better now, or do we? I do, but now the Conservatives are asking you to accept less health care, less quality school for our children, and cutting 30% of the social programs in Ontario alone! You want to pay less taxes, but with less taxes come quantity over QUALITY.
We are going back to Neolibertarian conditions Canada! and Harper is sitting in the drivers seat driving us 100 kilometers at a time! OR SHOULD I SAY MILES? Maybe I should ask Obama first! UGh. I'm disgusted because we keep digging ourselves deeper and deeper, without even knowing the issues, not researching our "assumed" opinions. You were Conservative 10 years ago, and assume you still are. YOU NEED TO KNOW THE FACTS YOU NEED TO READ AND FOLLOW YOUR POLITICAL PARTY
The Conservatives want to disband Canada. They want GLOBALIZATION, but at what cost? Ask your church, your family and other charities, because the Canadian government is pulling out from responsibility for its citizens and now wants you to look after yourself entirely, Oh? Your a single mother of two? I heard they are looking for hookers in Parkdale, good luck! YEAH! that means they are pulling funding from TERMINALLY ILL PEOPLE, ELDERLY PEOPLE, CANCER PATIENTS even the DisAbled and BLIND. Again, Conservative is just another work for neolibertarian NAZI. UGH.
Will you full admit to being a neoliberal nazi?

Sometimes I have weird days where I will be intently focusing on something (lastest thing was cleaning) and I'll start singing old church hymns.

At school, I sit with a group of three girls, plus a few others. One of which I have known since I was a teenager, whom I met in the Salvation Army church, another, a 40 something (relates like a 25 year old though) reformed Christian and another very spiritual 30 something (who honest to God I thought was younger than I am) who at first totally bothered the life out of me, because shes so "can do", "conflict resolution" blah blah mumble jumbo.

She knows I'm a big LGBT advocate, focusing my thesis and statements on LGBT teens and young adults. I also feature addiction in there too, but, I'm narrowing on the LGBT community.

She knows I revolt religion, so much so to the point where I demanded no pastor at our wedding. She hasn't pressured much, although she mentions to me that to hear me speak of the loss of religion and the mainstream disassociation effect just oozed sadness.  I suppose she is right. I am sad. Mainstream religion often makes me sad. But thats what religion has done for, well, ever.  Look at history. Look at all the proof, the Spanish Inquisition, the MIDDLE EAST, please, I need no more mockery.

She sent me this podcast on CBC radio Q, featuring this pretty cool dude named Jay Bakker. His parents are some sort of nortorious church misogenists that I know nothing of, but low and behold, as I listened to him speak, every word, every sentence could have been written from the walls of my own mind and heart.

I rebuke mainstream religion. I rebuke extremists, and people who judge you even though they don't have the right nor the BALLS to saw a word. I have come to hate religion and everything it stands for.

My mother taught me not to hate, yet I've failed drastically in that department.

Anyway. I wanted to share this little tidbit of information with the world, as this dude Jay is killer awesome. http://www.cbc.ca/q/blog/2011/03/10/jay-bakker-on-q/

Dude could be my doppleganger, you know, except he's older, a dude, tattoo'd everywhere, and well, he has a beard. Whatever, great minds think alike.

I suppose what I'm trying to say is that I need to understand why I still blame someone else for the bad things that happen in my life, but I still claim I don't believe in a God. I can't do both. But I can't follow mainstream religion when they won't accept the best of people let alone those who need love and guidance the most.

I hate these deep rooted discussions with myself sometimes.

Good times Buddha. Now if I could only look a little more like the emancipated version of you, rather then the happy one, lol.

Peace and Chicken Grease.

So, I remember as a kid, mom use to tell me to "never answer the door if you see someone in a suit carrying books or a bible". So I didn't, and there were many times (even though our house was in the boonies) that we would have someone matching that description, end up at our door, trying to convert us or something.


Today at work, (key word, WORK) a dude came in and started talking to me like I was 15, asking if I'm religious or if my parents were, or if I believed in something blah blah. Let me tell you, Friday started off to be an ass-monkey of a day, and I was not ready for this little bible humper to tell me I was going to "hell". I already know, duh!

So anyway, he hands me this magazine called "awake" for kids and teens and told me I could benefit from it, as being I am young. I then told him "Thanks, everyone says I look young for 33 (if you haven't figured out, I'm an ass...clearly stated in other posts)" and he then exclaims "MY! You are very lucky in that regard! The Jehovah would treasure your youthfulness as an asset in the halls of the holy place".

Me being who I am, I lied and told him I was 33, I also know a little about the Jehovah’s and I asked him "So you think I'd be one of the 114,000 allowed in the Kingdom? SWEET" and he then gets even more excited as I've shown that I know something of this crap he's spewing and says "I see you are familiar with our preaching’s?". Then of course, the little devil reared its head and I said "Yeah, I'm pretty knowledgeable on the “mal-preaching” of religions and other cults, not unlike your own cult you've got yourself messed up in."

His eyes then opened so far I thought they would fall out onto my desk, and then his head exploded. JOOST KIDDINK. it didn't, but I thought it would be cool if it did. No, he said "well I'll be on my way then" and I said "yes, yes you will, and please do not come onto our property anymore, as I will have you cited" and g'day he went.
So, enjoy that little story. Hopefully "Joe Billy" reads this one day and realizes I'm the girl that closed the proverbial door in his face, without there even being a door to close!

Go mom!