We’re not as accepting of diversity as we say or even think we are.
Fifty-one (51) per cent of queer and trans people of color said they have faced discrimination from the wider LGBTQIA community. This is according to Stonewall UK, a charity organization in the UK, which released a report based on YouGov polling of over 5,000 LGBT people, and which investigated the experiences of different groups of LGBTQIA people.
Other findings included:
- More than a third of trans people (36%) say they’ve experienced discrimination from within the community;
- One in eight LGBTQIA disabled people whose activities are ‘limited a lot’ (13%) say they’ve experienced discrimination from within the community; and
- One in five LGBTQIA people of non-Christian faith (21%) say they’ve experienced discrimination from within the community because of different parts of their identities.
As it is, growing up LGBTQIA continues to be difficult. Less than half of lesbian, gay and bi people (46%) and trans people (47%) feel able to be open about their sexual orientation and/or gender identity to their whole family. Meanwhile, a third of bi people (32%) say they cannot be open about their sexual orientation with anyone in their family.
And while the LGBTQIA community is supposed to offer the support that families fail to do, “this research gives a worrying insight into just how serious a problem prejudice is within our community, and we need to talk about it. Users of dating apps will be familiar with phrases like ‘No blacks, no Asians’ and ‘No chocolate, no curry, no rice, no spice’ becoming the modern-day versions of ‘No blacks, no dogs, no Gypsies’,” said Ruth Hunt, chief executive at Stonewall UK.
Stonewall UK also stressed that there are vulnerable communities facing “double discrimination”. For instance, more than a third of trans people experienced discrimination or poor treatment; a quarter of disabled people had similar feelings of discrimination; and those who practice religion also face risks of exclusion.
The report gives several suggestions for improvement particularly in LGBT organizations, such as ensuring more diversity in decision-making groups, anti-discrimination training, partnering with disability groups, as well as listening to and giving a platform to others.
“It’s only by working together that we can create a world where all LGBT people are accepted without exception,” Hunt ended.
