LGBT: CITIZENSHIP AND LAW
Primary and Secondary Research What I Knew
• LGBT stands for “Lesbian Gay Bi Trans”, however, new terms of iden fica on have been rising in recent years. “Asexual” “Pansexual” “Demisexual” “Gender-fluid” “Tansgender, Bigender, Cisgender” etc. • There’s a lot of misinforma on even inside the LGBT community. • While the fight for equality has been around for years, it only started paying off in the last decade. • Associa ons like PFLAG, GSA and LGBT support groups exist to inform and help. LGBT RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS
Interna onal: • Beyond Ex-Gay • Interna onal Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC) • Interna onal Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Associa on (ILGA) • Interna onal Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Youth and Student Organisa on (IGLYO) • Interna onal Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender & Intersex Law Associa on (ILGLaw) • Interna onal Lesbian Informa on Service (defunct) • Iranian Railroad for Queer Refugees • Global Ac on for Trans Equality (GATE) • Global Respect In Educa on (GRIN) • Gay and Lesbian Interna onal Sport Associa on (GLISA) • Interna onal Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Associa on (ILTGA-LAC) • Organisa on Intersex Interna onal (OII) • Trans March Europe • European Parliament Intergroup on LGBT Rights • ILGA-Europe • LGBT Network • OII Europe • Transgender Europe
UK • Unity Bangor LGBT • Black Gay Men's Advisory Group • Campaign for Homosexual Equality • Campaign for Homosexual Law Reform (Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland) • Gay and Lesbian Humanist Associa on (GALHA) • Gay and Lesbian Youth Northern Ireland (GLYNI) • Homosexual Law Reform Society • Intersex UK • The Lesbian & Gay Founda on (LGF) • LGBT Network • LGBT+ Liberal Democrats • Peter Tatchell Founda on • OutRage! • Queer Youth Network (Q.Y.N.) • Stonewall
LGBT Law in the UK
• Years before the forma on of the modern United Kingdom in 1707, English law iden fied anal sex and zoophilia as offences punishable by hanging as a result of the Buggery Act in 1533.
• Wolfenden Report 1957: “homosexual behavior between consen ng adults in private should no longer be a criminal offence”. Found Homosexuality compa ble with mental diseases. • The Homosexual Law Reform Society was founded on 12 May 1958.
• Sexual Offenses Act of 1967 (England and Wales) 1) the act had to be consensual 2) the act had to take place in private 3) the act could involve only people that had a ained the age of 21.
Scotland (1981) and Northern Ireland (1982)
Victories
• 2004: Gender Recogni on Act • 2005: Legal Civil Partnership. Same sex adop on. • 2009: Same sex adop on in Scotland. • 2013: Same sex adop on in Northern Ireland. • 2014: Same Sex Marriage (England, Wales & Scotland). Megan Muralles
• President of CBH GSA • Pledge to the Honors GSS at NYU • Ac vist of LGBT rights in South Florida • Member of PFLAG • Awarded with the “Girls No ced” tle in 2015 • Ac vist for the LGBT educa on in public schools of South Florida
SURVEY Ages
16-20 20-25 25-30 35+
How ac ve are you in the LGBT community?
Not ac ve
Interested but not ac ve
Ac ve
Very ac ve
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 What do you do to help?
“I am president of my school's GSA (gender-sexuality alliance), I help organize GSA's in South Florida, and I ac vely advocate and speak at events, workshops, etc. across Florida. I also fundraise and create/par cipate in volunteer work. I advocate online via my blog and I work for two non-profit organiza ons.”
“I am quite ac ve. I am Vice President of my school's GSA (Gender-Sexuality Alliance) and do my best to educate and prevent the spread of misinforma on.”
“Support LGBT rights”
“I read to educate myself”
“Respec ng the members of their community”
“Try to educate my friends and family to help them understand” Do you believe law has taken an important part of the LGBT community in recent years? How?
“Yes, the law legi mizes acceptance or hate. An -discrimina on laws and further legislature promotes equality by se ng an example, allowing posi ve media coverage, promo ng safety and equality, etc.”
“More or less. I think allowing LGBT marriage was a big improvement.”
“Law has always been an important part of the community's safety. Right now, there aren't enough protec on laws to keep community members safe.”
“Yes, by crea ng laws to protect them and giving them rights.”
“Yes, the Law now approve marriage and adop on.”
“Actually no, law doesn’t protect them enough.”
What do you think is the most important thing that we, as ci zens, can do to improve the situa on of the LGBT people?
“Care. We need to care enough to educate ourselves, it is not the job of LGBTQIA+ people to educate every single person they meet. It is the job of ci zens to care enough to learn, and hopefully, implement such educa on in school systems so that access to this educa on is widespread and easily accessible.”
“Educa on is the key to understanding and acceptance. If you are confused, don't hate on others. Instead, try to research and learn.”
“Be educated”
“Teach our kids that is right to suport the LGBT community”
“Make them part of our society”
“Understand they are people just like us. Help others understand it” What is the biggest impediment that you, or someone you know, has encountered in our society as LGBT?
“Acceptance” 80%
“Bullying, harassment, abuse” 30%
“My friends defended me when bullies were making have a rough me”
“People who are apathe c and deny that a problem exists.” 50%
”Rejec on” 40%
“None” 15%
How do you think law and ci zenship work together?
“It is the duty of ci zens to follow the law, but also to challenge it. I will not accept unjust laws”
“Making pressure. With signatures...etc”
“Ci zens need to work together to change the law and make it be er for all”
“They don’t”
“Ci zens must be respec ul for laws to be created”
Data
• All the people who took the survey agreed that ci zen pressure helps to the crea on and reforma on of laws.
• 3/4 think that social media and TV help this phenomenon.
• 60% don’t agree on how the LGBT community is viewed in the media.
• 80% think that law is useful for protec on, but not as a way to guarantee equal rights in real society. First word you think of when you hear the word "Law”?
• Unfair • Scary • Jus ce • Civility • Social • Rights • Hammer • Punishment • Harvard • Criminals • Judge • Good • Paper • Bad • Old • Baised • Bennefit • Strict Image or icon associated with “Law” Icons I found
“Just like jus ce is blind; we blindly believe in a brighter future to come” -Megan Muralles
References
• h ps://www.amnesty.org.uk/issues/LGBTI- rights?gclid=CIiRh4n63MoCFRFmGwodcXoNfA • h ps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ LGBT_rights_in_the_United_Kingdom • h p://www.thisisstar.com/images/por olio/ digital/jus ce.jpg • Survey made at h ps://www.surveymonkey.com/analyze/ qs4a_2Bl0YnUGPeMch1K7bJC9XUqniH M_2FXc K coAuU_3D