The struggle of the LGBTQIA+ community has long existed in society. They face discrimination, abuse, violence, etc., and they continue to fight for their rights to this day.
The long history of the legalization of same-sex marriage is laid with attempts of recognition followed by bans. The issue is taboo, but it doesn’t stop the member of the community from starting families with their significant other.
While same-sex marriage is legal in Albuquerque, New Mexico, LGBT families are still subject to prejudice, preventing judges and legislators from going in their favor. As a result, they lose custody, visitation rights, and possibilities of adoption. This is why hiring a family law attorney who knows how to navigate and defend the rights of the LGBTQIA+ community is crucial to acquiring custody and adoptions.
Discrimination against the LGBTQIA+ community
The LGBTQIA+ community endures discrimination due to their Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Expression (SOGIE). They are not given equal opportunities in the workplace, at school, in the streets, and everywhere they go. Hundreds and thousands of members of this community are beaten up, harassed, and killed just because of who they are as a person.
To illustrate the gravity of this discrimination, here are the numbers:
- 70 states worldwide consider same-sex activities illegal
- In 9 countries, the constitution protects discriminatory acts against the LGBTQIA+ community
- Same-sex activities are punishable with the death penalty in 6 countries in the United Nations.
While this is not the case in the United States, prevalent maltreatment towards the LGBTQIA+ community still exists, and this affects the children of LGBT families.
The children of LGBTQIA+ families
According to a study, children of gay and lesbian parents undergo “unusually high levels of extreme social ostracism and overt hostility from other children and parents.” Another compelling detail about this study is the researcher’s note that–since the reports came from teachers–the results are subjective and may be biased against the oppressed minority.
There are three judicial concerns raised in court for these families:
- The child’s SOGIE. Because they are raised by lesbian and gay parents, the court is concerned that this affects their identity.
- Mental health. The court is concerned that children under the care of lesbian and gay parents are more prone to mental breakdowns, behavior problems, and other psychological issues.
- Social relationships. The court worries about the stigma, bullying, and abuse surrounding children from LGBTQIA+ families.
Society does not make it easy on the LGBTQIA+ community, which is why fighting for their rights is crucial to their lives.
Defending the rights of the LGBTQIA+ community
Basic humans rights have been the fight of the community for ages. From the Stonewall Riot to the Pride Parades today, their fight has gone a long way, but not everyone is welcoming fo this change. Lesbian and gay couples ask to be given the same marital and constitutional rights as heterosexual couples.
Furthermore, there may be studies to prove specific claims about the effects of having lesbian and gay parents, but the evidence has not been critically proven. These results are yet to be tested further to be proven concrete and correct, so appeals, decisions, and treatments should be as objective as possible.
