Healthcare/Microaggressions in health care settings

Just imagine being a human without having access to proper healthcare just because you identified yourself differently from what people can physically see outside of you.  

Going to hospitals or clinics should fill one's worries about a certain condition with assurance. But in the world of many LGBTQ+, going to the hospital makes them feel worried about being harassed, discriminated, mistreated and worse being denied of service thus making them feel less valuable to what the standard of the society of how a person sexual orientation should be.

I remember when I was in Senior High School, I have a friend of mine who needs to see a doctor because she is experiencing pain in her stomach and realizing she needs immediate care, I told her to see a doctor but she told me that she already tried to, and instead of receiving diligent care from the clinic, the doctor asked uncomfortable questions about her identification that made her feel discriminated and obviously harassed. Questions like, “What’s the good of being gay?,” “What kind of partner are you currently dating?,” “Why don’t you reconsider?,” “Maybe it’s all just in your head? Give it a month!,” are just one of the offensive questions the doctor asked unconsciously. True enough, the power of words is strong enough to put someone down.  

In healthcare settings, we tend to forget that receiving subtle ways of discrimination is a significant risk to the LGBTQ+ as it can lead them to never seek care again because of their traumatic experiences. According to the Center for American Progress survey (CAP) in 2017, among the surveyed 8 percent of individuals which are part of LGBTQ+ community – 14 percent of them had experienced of being harassed and discriminated based on their sexual orientation and gender identity and declined or evaded appointments from doctors because of past experiences of being mistreated in hospitals/clinics. Among the transgendered individuals, 22 percent also reported postponing seeking medical care. Overall, the survey showed how many LGBTQ+ had experienced discrimination for seeking care and this is still not getting much of attention on a serious note.

It is an unsettling situation as these traumatic experiences of the LGBTQ+ community will position them on edge in receiving good healthcare. With what I have encountered in the past, I can tell how much challenge it is to see medical sectors unprepared for giving the right service for people with different sexual orientation and gender identity. Though in many cases, some of the health care providers are unaware with their statement against the LGBTQ+, the damage it inflicts cannot be measured as it causes serious trauma and serious health issues that we cannot fix in an instant.

Does Love really win in the Church?

In October 2020, there was a lot of buzz on the internet about Pope Francis' comments supporting civil unions. It was controversial not just because of its substance, but also because of its context: it appeared to be counsel given to a homosexual, partnered Roman Catholic who wished to raise his children in the church. Presumably, Francis acknowledged each person's right to family and the civil protection that comes with it—"What we have to make is a law of civil coexistence, for they [LGBTQs] have the right to be legally covered." (Elie 2020). However, while there is literature on religious education and sexuality, few accounts reflect Filipino LGBTQs' experiences, particularly their understandings of "religion," "God," "faith," and questions of meaning.

The Philippines is a religious country, and most Filipinos have a common religious outlook as a result of Catholicism's supremacy. Traditional gender norms and the banning of behaviors associated with non-heterosexuality are included in this viewpoint. Lesbians and gays who depart from this conventional standard are more likely to face prejudice and discrimination. Moreover, their population throughout the world continue to face discrimination and injustice.

There are still a significant number of local and national anti-discrimination legislation in the Philippines that safeguard the rights of LGBT Filipinos. Since the 1990s, several ideas have been presented, but none have been successful (United Nations Development Program [UNDP] & United States Agency for International Development [USAID], 2014). As a result, LGBT Filipinos continue to face discrimination, prejudice, and stigma since most Filipinos do not embrace the idea that lesbian, gay, and bisexual orientations are natural variations of human sexuality. Religious views, which may be connected with unfavorable sentiments toward LGBT people, have a substantial impact on most Filipinos' perspectives.

These unchecked preconceptions and prejudices often come out as microaggressions which indirectly insult members of the rainbow community. Despite the growing support and continuous development of the LGBTQ community in a spiral progression throughout the years, such an antiquated mindset still exists in regards to heteronormative opinions. It is known that supporting the queer community has been a part of the recent trend in the Philippines, a predominantly Catholic country, nonetheless, this does not manifest or translate to anything as many of the so-called “allies”, especially church-goers, would try to justify the alleged repercussions of the SOGIE Equality Bill, if implemented. Some of these repercussions presented is the way that some of the privileges in this proposed bill might undercut certain types of freedoms or even destroy families while it only ever seeks anti-discrimination on the basis of SOGIE (Rappler, 2019).

 This is the reason why, just like all of the oppressed and marginalized sector of the society, the LGBTQ community, are yet again, facing discrimination from all walks of life because of all the homophobic slurs from straight people who cannot accept that they will be equated to the assumed “inferior” members of the society. There are those heterosexual and homosexual people who support “Love Wins”, who have been also shamelessly campaigning against the SOGIE bill. As such, it is high time to remember that, adding privileges for a certain community won’t take away the rights of other people.

Outside the closet, in front of cameras

Lights, Camera, strike a pose.

I have always loved watching Tv. From teleseryes to movies, it does not matter if it's local or international as long as it suits my taste. Growing up, I’ve discovered more platforms in the entertainment industry besides television, there’s now Netflix, YouTube, and even Podcasts. Now when I love something, I research about it, and I have come to realize that a lot of the things I enjoy watching and consuming from social media are produced by the members of the LGBTQ+ community. Of course, my views of the things that they created or produced never changed, rather maybe, I loved them even more. But I wondered, how many of them are there? And how do I not see them often?

My questions were answered when I met people who belong in the community and at the same time studying in the corresponding field; They said that it was because of microaggressions. Microaggressions are defined as indirect, subtle, or unintentional discrimination against members of a marginalized group, or in this case, the LGBTQ+ community. I had no idea that they experienced these things let alone affect their daily living and their careers.

With Job opportunities

Learning more about their experiences, I also found out that they have limited job opportunities solely because of their identities, or if they ever have a job, they will receive unequal treatment and salaries compared to those who are heterosexuals. It is sad to think that it comes to a point where they even have to fight for what they deserve and to prove themselves whereas we straight people never had to. We were never discriminated against just because we were straight so why did they have to? 

Representation

In terms of them being on-screen instead of being behind the cameras, a lot of the members of the mentioned community get roles, but not enough representation. Most of the time, they are just side characters for comedic relief or best friends with the main character. A gay child deserves to watch a person like them on TV and not think that people like them do not have stories to tell.

Some actors/actresses who are straight and were offered a gay role often refuse because of systemic homophobia. This just shows the silent judgment of people towards them, they tolerate, but they don’t accept and respect.

From an ally

Despite this, the time has come for change. We allies will continue to fight for, and with the members of the LGBTQ+ community. It is time to respect people regardless of how they identify or love with no questions asked. We hope that someday, the closet in which you hid in never ceased to exist because hiding is not an option anymore, only safety, love, and acceptance.

Why don't they mind their business and we mind ours?

School, Should they be a learning institution where students are forced to be mocked and denied because of  your Androgyne, Bigender, Cross Dresser and many more types of Lgbtq among the general population. Why don’t we just accept them and if you can’t, Then don’t be one of the many populations who would mock them. Research on microaggressions reveals a lot of things that you would not know if you didn’t experience it. Using existing frameworks that describe sexuality, gender, and gender identity microaggressions, this paper analyzes the research group conversations of lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth. The findings describe microassaults, microinsults, and microinvalidations that youth experience in schools from peers, teachers, and other school staff. Microaggressions are everyday interactions that may be verbal, behavioral or environmental that undermine or discriminate based on identity (Nadal, 2008). I honestly didn’t think that a learning institute would side with microaggression instead of opposing it. Aren’t Learning Institutes supposed to help kids grow, not mock them and be part of a problem.

A researcher named Sarah Bryan from Western Michigan University titled LGBT Microaggressions in Counselor Education Programs. I honestly don't like going to counseling that much because how can a person help you if that specific person didn’t experience that sort of thing. Someone might think they are helping you but in reality it’s not. Like how can a Straight person know what a Bisexual person want without them getting hurt with like in a relationship. According to Sarah most of her participants suffer microaggression in relationships. Microaggression can turn to bullying, To bullying to depression worse case it might turn down hill. Because some of us don’t understand each other, Like you might tell someone a joke but for you it’s funny you meant no harm but for them you might be mocking them for an offensive joke. 

Microaggressions and Leadership

Microaggressions, as described by Sue et al., 2007, “are the everyday slights, indignities, put-downs and insults that members of marginalized groups experience in their day-to-day interactions with individuals who are often unaware that they have engaged in an offensive or demeaning way." In other words, these are improper terms thrown at vulnerable groups such as persons with disabilities, the homeless, senior citizens, women, the LGBT Community. Microaggressions can sometimes be intentional or unintentional, but they can definitely cause harm to people. They may not be as worse as overtly racist, sexist, and homophobic acts but according to various research, microaggressions may result to psychological and even physical problems to the victims. Without knowing it, microaggressions often happen on a daily basis. They can be seen in workplaces, schools, the online world, entertainment industries, and a lot more.

In the present time, people who encounter microaggressions frequently are the members of the LGBT Community particularly because they have been victims of discrimination for a long time now. Microaggression towards the community became prevalent today in the gaming community especially now that we’re locked in our houses and don’t have other things to do because of the pandemic. But little did we know, microaggressions directed to the members of the said community have already been present especially in schools and in workplaces. Accordingly, this issue has been affecting the members on how they work, lead, and act around their colleagues.

But for this article, let us focus on how microaggressions can affect the leadership abilities of the members of the LGBT Community. Today, leaders are being looked upon by everyone because of their bravery in leading battalions and armies of people despite the crazy things that are happening around us. Unlike before, women are now stepping up to act as leaders in the government, in workplaces, and even in educational institutions. Also, the members of the LGBT Community are now having the courage to act as leaders despite the discrimination that they experience from their colleagues. But because of these shady insults and so called microaggressions, members of the community will most likely re-evaluate if taking the risk to lead is worth it considering the impacts that they may encounter.

But really, how can microaggression affect one’s leadership? For one, members and colleagues might question a community member’s ability to lead because unfortunately, others think that being homosexual, bisexual, or asexual is not normal and considered as a disability. Some people also say that the members of the LGBT Community have their own biases and cannot relate to heterosexual people, thus, cannot act rational when leading a group or solving a crisis. Moreover, people, especially the religious ones treat homo/bi/asexuality as a sin which can also be a reason why they don’t trust them to lead and act as a forefront. As a result of these circumstances, they blurt or “mistakenly” blurt out slurs or disrespectful remarks towards these people without knowing the effects that they may come with. Consequently, because of these microaggressions, members of the LGBT Community lose their confidence and begin to question themselves if they can really lead a group of people with different views and preferences.

For some, they say that the victims of microaggressions are “too sensitive” or “too fragile”, but they had no idea that they were being insensitive of each other’s feelings. Without a doubt, everyone has the right to feel how they feel. They can be happy if they want to. They can be sad, they can be frustrated, and they can be hurt because of these microaggressions that obviously have meaning and were said for a reason.

Amidst all of these, the right thing to do is to be conscious of what we say to other people. We must think critically before saying something because it might sound inappropriate or hurtful towards others. Choosing the right words to use in a conversation is very important because we must remember that any of our actions can be detrimental to others and may impact they psychological, mental, emotion, or physical wellbeing. As humans, we must also keep in mind that each person has different emotional and mental capacities which is why we need to understand each other’s differences. Lastly, people should stop hating on people who are members of the LGBT Community and other marginalized groups. In this cruel world, may we know how to be more understanding and accepting of each other’s uniqueness. Like heterosexual people, these members of the community are humans too, they are perfectly normal, and there’s nothing wrong about how they identify themselves. As stated by the author of The Light in the Heart Roy T. Bennett, “Respect other people’s feelings. It might mean nothing to you, but it could mean everything to them.”

A safe working environment for everybody

Derald W. Sue, Describe microaggression as the everyday slights, indignities, put downs and insults that people of color, women, LGBT populations or those who are marginalized experience in their day-to-day interactions with people. Microaggressions are little yet harmful acts directed towards certain groups. This might take the form of verbal, behavioral, or environmental cues. In a society where racism and violence are still present, this will always be difficult for those who are experiencing it. Although discrimination exists in many aspects of society, microaggressions may be more harder to identify on what it is. The LGBTQ+ community is constantly subjected to these types of microaggressions in every circumstance, in which people subconsciously speak or behave in a discriminatory manner. In such instances, these are the individuals who are insensitive or trying to say some words that can be harmful to others when communicating, and for them it is a method to complement the person, but they are unconscious that they are making derogatory statements and it turns out as a microaggression.

On a daily basis, the LGBTQ+ community  suffers from discrimination, hatred, discomfort, and especially by microaggression in their workplace. It is really unfortunate that many workers  are unaware of microaggressions. And some of them don't do it unintentionally because  they don’t  have enough knowledge about this kind of situation. But in this problem, how can we help the company to learn  and to be knowledgeable enough, for them to be able to have a good and safe environment for all the LGBTQ+ employees?

There are a lot of ways on how to resolve and eliminate  this problem at work. In order to have a safe environment for LGBTQ+, the companies  must educate their workers on what they look and sound like. In their diversity and inclusion initiatives, they may include seminars that explain microaggressions and teach staff on how to detect and manage them in the workplace. Workers can prevent hurting people's sentiments using this concept, and LGBTQ+ employees must feel secure in where they belong. 

Companies must also educate their employees on other LGBTQ+ orientations, such as gender fluid, gender non-conforming, pansexual, and asexual. Companies must enhance employee awareness and understanding by identifying and addressing these topics. It is essential, however, that these terms are not depicted as binary labels. Queer people should be allowed to express their gender identity or sexual orientation in their own unique way, rather than the way that is expected of them. In this manner of teaching your employees, the LGBTQ+ group must have a feeling of belonging, and they must not feel unsafe in this type of setting.

A number of initiatives, some targeted at boosting diversity and others at fostering inclusivity, will be necessary to achieve complete workplace inclusion for LGBTQ+ employees. Inclusivity, on the other hand, demands the sharing of knowledge and the promotion of previously unheard voices. Employers may foster a work environment in which colleagues are always learning how to be greater supporters of their LGBTQ+ coworkers by focusing on both diversity and inclusion.

📷Microaggression in LGBTQ+ Relationships

Microaggression can happen anytime and anywhere but do you know where is it surprisingly being experienced? In relationships! Especially for the relationships that are not so usual for other people, the LGBTQ+ relationships. People in the marginalized groups experience microaggressions which are indirect discriminations and they encounter this every day throughout their lives (Sue et al., 2007). Couples in the LGBTQ+ community usually get a lot of microaggressions whether intentional or unintentional.

Let’s explore more and fill in our minds with knowing when and where microaggressions are taking place in LGBTQ+ relationships. People may not be aware that sometimes they are already offending someone or in some cases, they are aware of their actions but does not realize the negative effects they may have cause to other people. LGBTQ+ relationships are one of the controversial relationships in our society. In the explanation of Edward Westermark (1908) he said homosexual practices were denounced by This is also the reason where microaggressions in LGBTQ+ members relationships took place, people sometimes ask if what will be their plan and when will the two getting married, but not everyone have the privilege to get married because same-sex marriage is only available in 29 countries in the world (Green, 2019).

Other forms of microaggressions in LGBTQ+ relationships may also include assuming one partner is the “man” and the other is the woman in queer relationships. According to Sara Youngblood Gregory, it is a frustrating double bind in relationships, which technically means an unpleasant experience when a significant person introduces a paradox that leaves them trapped. In the example given wherein the person must do X, but he’s also asked to do Y, which makes a problem with X. People unconsciously being perpetrators committing microaggressions by simply asking how LGBTQ+ relationships work even though there are cases that these people are just curious about it.

It is time that we change our viewpoints and open our hearts and minds to allow everyone to love who they want to spend the rest of their lives with anyone or any gender they want. No more questions, no more assumptions, and no more side comments about their relationships. Because just like us members of the LGBTQ+ community just want to feel love and the feeling of belongingness to someone you can call home. Respecting them in all aspects is a small gesture that would mean a lot to them. A relationship has no gender, no color, no race, and no status.

The microaggresions and overall struggles the Transgender community continues to face.

Trans folk have always been around and will only continue to exist. Nobody ever chooses to be trans. No one would choose a life of struggle. Sadly, the unfortunate truth is not many people see them as real humans. I know this because I am part of the community myself. Surprise! I hope you do not prove my point. Even if I told you, please don’t tell anyone else. Only we get to tell others on our own terms. It definitely is a cruel world out here. “Where do we stand in this world?”, is a question I often find myself asking.

Maneuvering through life as a transgender person is a bumpy ride. With the lack of Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression education in the country, transphobia is very much apparent. People hate on what they do not understand. Because of this, internalized transphobia exists in trans folk themselves as well. Questioning, doubting, hating and dehumanizing oneself a similar way society does. On top of that, is the crippling dysphoria that screams: “You will never be good enough!”.

“You will never be a real man/woman!” “Eww. I would never date a trans person” “So, what genitals do you have under your pants?”

These are only a few of the microaggressions that are not so ‘micro’ at all that transgender individuals face in every aspect of their lives. These sentiments seem so light but are very harmful to transgender individuals. To be unchained from the shackles of what is not is all a trans person is asking for. Imagine being imprisoned in a body that does not feel like home. Imagine looking at the mirror and not recognizing who you see. And when you choose the option to be the person you depict yourself as in your head, the person who you truly are in your heart, the world hates you for it. The world deprives you of a fulfilling life that everyone else has. Being you means putting yourself at risk.

The moment you realize you go against the rule book society has set, you place yourself on a battlefield and begin fighting to survive. Transgender individuals are forced to be brave. Something as small as going to bathrooms or visits to the doctor, feels so unsafe yet these are the things that make us all human. With that, is the crippling fear that no one will ever come to love them. The late Jennifer Laude was brutally murdered in the year 2014 when her murderer Scott Pemberton found out she was a trans woman.

In the Trevor Project’s third annual National Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health, more than half of transgender and nonbinary participants have seriously considered suicide. 350 transgender folk have been killed in 2020. 34 were killed this year. These statistics are based on the United States alone and it is already very alarming. In the Philippines, there has already been multiple transphobic incidents this year 2021 as well. Transgender folk like Junjie Bangkiao and Ebeng Mayor have lost their lives due to the cruelty of transphobes. Others, like me, were harassed and attacked. How many more lives have to be lost? How many more transgender children have to cry themselves to sleep?

As allies, what can you do? Saying you support LGBTQ+ individuals is not enough. Being an ally is more than Facebook posts and tweets. Advocate for the SOGIE Equality (Anti-Discrimination Bill). Do your own research. Respectfully ask questions. Amplify their voices and their struggles. Learn about microaggressions and correct yourself when you mention them or call out a friend or family member if they do so. We should not be passive when something wrong occurs because this means we enable hatred and discrimination to occur which costs lives. The trans community are more than just numbers and statistics. Just like everyone else, they are somebody’s friend, sibling, family and significant other. Inclusivity and basic human decency has been long overdue and we have to act now.

Gayming and its Microaggressions

The Microaggressions LGBTQIA+ community encounter in the gaming scene.

Mobile Legends, League of Legends, Apex Legends, and Valorant. These are some of the most talked-about online multiplayer games in the Philippine gaming scene. There have been multiple tournaments hosted in the name of these games, and today’s youth is continuously thriving in conquering the digital gaming world.

I, for one, spend hours of my day playing Valorant with friends or in a solo queue. And I have seen or heard multiple remarks from toxic players regarding using “gay” as a slur.

“Why are you using that gun? Are you gay?” “Bro, that’s so gay.” “Clutch or gay.” “Gaysh*t.”

These are some most used to in-game remarks on different gaming platforms. Some would say that these have been a normal thing in the gaming community years back and getting hurt now would be nonsensical.

But isn’t that the problem? That members of the LGBTQIA+ community in the gaming scene have been experienced this kind of discrimination for so long now and we choose not to speak?

In the recently held Mobile Legends: Bang-Bang Professional Leagues (MPL), Blacklist’s team player OhMyV33nus won the tournament cup. But before they won the tournament, OhMyV33nus received tons of backlash when they lost one game in the tournament. He was called different kinds of slurs for being the gaymer in the group.

But this truth isn’t only experienced by OhMyV33nus alone. This is the situation for tons of gaymers in the digital gaming scene. According to a study conducted in the US, 74% of adult gamers who play online multiplayer games have experienced harassment. And 35% of this population are members of the LGBTQIA+ community.

When gamers who use gay as a kind of slur are confronted about the effects of this behavior, they almost automatically defend themselves by saying: “that is used in the gaming scene for too long, it’s too late to get offended.”

But what can we do when people refuse to admit their mistakes and change their attitude and perception? Ignore? Give up? Or mobilize.

As the gaming scene continues to be more inclusive to the LGBTQIA+ community, different game developers incorporated the community in their games. There have been multiple types of role-playing game available in the market that celebrates gay love.

Fortnite, Super Smash Bros., and Assassin’s Creed Odyssey are among the biggest game platforms that have queer representation.

As we strive towards a more inclusive space in the digital gaming scene, we too need to lose the perception that gay is a slur to be used when your teammates are too weak in the situation. We need to lose the idea that using gender preference and femininity as derogatory terms is something cool and normal for heterosexuals.

One’s gender should never be labeled as weak.

The gaming community should not ignore the gayming members of the scene since a big percentage of the players in mainstream games are members of the LGBTQIA+ community.

Caring about their situation and their concerns will reduce the chances of harassment and discrimination. Choosing to ignore their plight creates a toxic community and holds back the rich array of emotions gaymers feel. This too will prohibit games from experiencing their full creative, expressive, and artistic potential. Taking on a step towards inclusivity we are taking on new meanings- in ways only a queer sensibility could inform.