Queerness is not a mental health condition. However, the prevalence of psychological conditions is significantly high in L.G.B.T. [1] communities.
Social stigma and prejudices influence how individuals from L.G.B.T. communities handle their mental health concerns. Most L.G.B.T.Q. people face hurdles in seeking help for emotional challenges because they cannot openly discuss those issues.
What is L.G.B.T.?
The term L.G.B.T. is an acronym for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender. The sexual orientation of a person is a highly complex subject. Feeling of sexual affinity towards same-sex is not abnormal behavior[2].
It is an individual’s choice to have sexual feelings towards the same sex. There are several permutations and combinations as some people may have a sexual attraction for both sexes. These preferences may be permanent or temporary.
Lesbian – These are women or girls who fancy sexual attraction towards other women or girls. Sexual attraction toward same-sex may develop when girls are growing up together.
Gay – A man or a boy is gay if they feel a sexual attraction towards other men or boys. Gay is a universal term to describe individuals who fancy sexual relationships with individuals of the same sex.
Bisexual – Bisexual people fancy romantic and sexual relationships with people of both sexes. The attraction towards particular sex may or may not last long.
Transgender – A transgender individual is not comfortable with their gender. A person who is a male by birth may behave and dress up like a female or vice versa.
Visit United We Care to learn how to deal with the emotional challenges of L.G.B.T.Q persons.
What is Victorian morality [3]?
The Victorian Era represents the period that spans Queen Victoria’s lifetime from the year 1837 to 1901. This period marked the birth of repressive moral standards and ethics that influenced all spheres of life.
The Code of Conduct during the Victorian Era did not allow open discussion about sex and even banned masturbation. Victorian morality represents stringent censorship rules, gender equality, and sexual exploitation.
The middle class advanced during the Victorian Era. Churches imposed harsh moral standards because of the spread of evangelism. It adopted Victorian morals because of the teachings of evangelism by churches.
Women went through severe restrictions as they had no right to vote, appeal in court, and own property. In the Victorian Era, they perceived women to be inferior to men. The men had the ownership of women, including their children.
There were very rigid regulations about sexual conduct in England during the Victorian Era. The oppressive moral standards led to the rise of feminism during the Victorian Era.
People who belong to the L.G.B.T. community face several challenges like non-LGBT individuals. The main issue is multiple stigmas and social prejudices that prevent L.G.B.T. individuals from seeking help for their mental health problems.
Depression and anxiety are common mental health concerns in L.G.B.T.Q. Communities. Suicidal tendencies affect transgender and bisexual persons as the rate of attempting to end life is significantly high in these individuals.
They are being an L.G.B.T.Q. It does not mean that the individual has a mental health condition. Mental health concerns are common in L.G.B.T.s, irrespective of age. The issues of anxiety and depression may result from social stigma, discrimination, violence, or sexual harassment.
Several L.G.B.T. persons struggle with mood disorders, P.T.S.D., and anxiety. Minority stress is also prevalent in L.G.B.T.Q. Persons who cannot succeed because of prejudices or live under constant fear of violence. We need to identify and recognize L.G.B.T. individuals as they are. Loving them by respecting their identity will lessen their mental health struggles.
What are the emotional challenges of Victorian Morality and its contribution faced by the L.G.B.T.?
L.G.B.T. communities face many emotional health concerns because of the Victorian age prejudices and social stigma that continue to hound the freedom of sexual orientation. Even after a century, the dogmas of the Victorian Era persist across many countries in the world. Victorian Morals can affect a child’s upbringing, who may continue to live with a pang of guilt about their sexual orientation.
Sexual repression of men and women is a significant highlight of Victorian morality. Monogamy was mandatory for women, and a girl’s virginity was crucial to her marriage. Moral policing is rampant in many parts of the globe.
L.G.B.T.Q. individuals suffer from hatred, neglect, and even violence as society refuses to accept them as they are. Victorian morality despised the minority views of several artists and authors.
We can perceive the effect of Victorian morality even after 100 years. They categorized homosexuality as a mental health condition till the American Psychiatric Association struck it off from the Manual of Mental Disorders in 1973.
What are this stigma and the legacy of Victorian morality in our society?
This stigma, the legacy of Victorian morality, is still prevalent in our society.Victorian morality gave birth to some Draconian laws concerning the L.G.B.T. people. As mentioned earlier, masturbation was a crime during the Victorian era, and people believed the act of masturbation resulted in sexually transmitted infections.
The L.G.B.T. community in India created history by achieving freedom from the 200-year-old law from the British era. The law criminalized homosexuality and was a primary cause of concern for the entire L.G.B.T. community.
The strugglesL.G.B.T.Q. individuals are far from over despite a law that recognizes homosexuality. There are several legacies of Victorian morality haunting the L.G.B.T.Q. Communities. Under one such law, non-procreative sex was a crime. The law targeted homosexuals and served as an instrument to harass L.G.B.T. individuals.
We can scrap old laws that discriminate or criminalize L.G.B.T. individuals. But it is very complex to get rid of the legacy of Victorian morality, which is apparent in the society’s reluctance to accept L.G.B.T. individuals as they are.
What is The stigma against L.G.B.T. individuals of Victorian morality
The stigma against L.G.B.T. individuals is a legacy of Victorian morality. The Indian law against any act of sexual intercourse without the intention of producing children was the gift of British rulers. It aimed at punishing homosexuals, as the idea of same-sex romance was in direct conflict with Victorian morality.
The British Empire made similar laws in other countries under its occupation. A majority of Commonwealth countries carry the virulent hangover of Victorian Morality as homosexuality continues to be illegal there.
According to a Supreme Court ruling, a person has the right to privacy and is free to have an individual sexual orientation. The criminalization of same-sex relationships resulted in the stigma and social discrimination among L.G.B.T. individuals. Unfortunately, society nurtures prejudices against gays and lesbians, forcing L.G.B.T. people to battle mental health conditions.
The higher rates of mental health conditions among L.G.B.T.Q people result from social isolation, rejection, and incidences of violence. Eminent mental health professionals and social organizations help L.G.B.T.Q. Persons deal with several challenges causing low-self esteem, depression, and anxiety.
Mental health concerns like depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and suicidal tendencies are more prevalent in the L.G.B.T. community. We attribute the higher incidence of mental health challenges among L.G.B.T.Q. Individuals to social stigma, discrimination, and prejudices. The toxic legacy of Victorian morality contributes to society’s reluctance to love and accept L.G.B.T. people as they are.
R. L. Kinney, “Homosexuality and Scientific Evidence: On Suspect Anecdotes, Antiquated Data, and Broad Generalizations,” The Linacre Quarterly, vol. 82, no. 4, pp. 364–390, Nov. 2015, doi: 10.1179/2050854915y.0000000002. [Online]. Available: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4771012/. [Accessed: Jul. 25, 2022]
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