What is minority stress in people from the LGTBIQ + community?

Did you know that 75% of LGTBIQ + people reported having suffered discrimination based on their sexual orientation or gender identity?

Undoubtedly, this generalized situation sustains minority stress. A specific stress of the LGTBIQ + community? Yes, one made up of homophobia, bi-phobia and internalized transphobia, stigma, prejudice, and expectations of rejection.

• Related article: "The 16 types of discrimination (and their causes)"

What is minority stress?

But first... What is minority stress? It is the experience of chronic, unique and hostile stress as the result of belonging to a socially marginalized category, within a predominantly heterosexual and cisgender world. Furthermore, it is shaped by internalized homophobia, biphobia and transphobia, stigma, expectations of rejection and prejudice.

It is different from the everyday stress that can be experienced from traffic, work, or paying bills; it is an additional stressor that is built from the rejection of the identity of the person belonging to the minority group.

Homophobia, biphobia and intentionalized transphobia

As time passes, individuals begin to believe in the social biases and prejudices that denigrate LGTBIQ + people, developing a negative self-assessment and normalizing homophobia, biphobia and transphobia.

In this sense, it includes apathy, hatred or irrational fear towards LGTBIQ + people that is naturally internalized through social discourse. This internalization occurs frequently without the person being able to account for it and acts in a automatic, without being able to rethink the meaning of their actions, normalizing negative ideas and concepts. The discrepancy between sexuality and the desire for social validation is common.

In this way, It is common for LGTBIQ + people to ignore comments or behaviors that may threaten their own esteem or that of their social group. A clear example would be that of an LGTBIQ + person who considers that gays, lesbians or trans are a bad example for society, that they should not show affection in public because "it does not look good" or that they should not have the right to marriage. It is also very common to find preferences for people who act as “heterosexuals” showing a marked discrimination to the diversity of gender expression.

Prejudice and discrimination

Prejudice implies an anticipated negative idea about LGTBIQ + people, ideas such as “LGTBIQ + people do not have the moral authority to adopt children”, or “gay couples cannot be happy” usually prevail. On the other hand, discrimination starts from a behavior that puts into practice the prejudicial idea It works like exclusion structure that exists towards LGTBI + people of the resources available to heterosexuals, as occurs with the marriage. In addition, the heterosexist culture that censors any conduct outside of heteronormativity.

Stigma

Belonging to a stigmatized group implies that society negatively perceives some attribute or trait that is considered unacceptable or inferior. Feeling that there is something wrong with oneself allows expectations of rejection and concealment behaviors to increase, often using a hyper vigilant mode to avoid it. It is common for LGTBIQ + people to constantly verify whether in a certain place they will be susceptible to discrimination, even acting in advance.

• You may be interested in: "Bullying for homophobia: its harmful effects on society and education"

Psychological consequences

It largely explains that the LGTBIQ + community has higher rates of anxiety, depression, suicide and self-injurious behaviors. The most frequent problems presented are anxiety, depression and low self-esteem. This context is alarming especially if we take into account that more than 60% of the people who They went to psychological consultation and stated that they had felt prejudices on the part of their professional dealer. More than 50% of the people stated that they had undergone conversion therapy.

In this sense, psychological treatment in LGTBIQ + people is not being approached by competent and trained professionals in sexual diversity, gender and affirmative psychotherapy. On the contrary, it is very common for there to be stories of patients discriminated against and revictimized by their treating professional, increasing feelings of stigma and internalized homophobia.

That is why it is urgent to create awareness about the importance of training and sensitizing professionals so that treatments can be effective and do not harm. Likewise, it is important that patients are informed and can choose a professional who can address their queries without relying on prejudices, following ethical and scientific guidelines.

Bibliographic references:

• Meyer, I. H. (2016). Does an improved social environment for sexual and gender minorities have implications for a new minority stress research agenda?. Psychology of sexualities review, 7 (1), 81.
• More equality (2019). Mental health problems, access to public and private mental health services and conversion practices in LGTBIQ + people.