Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Gender Studies and Sexuality, 2024
Year: 2024
DOI:
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The Lavander Scare: Discrimination and Inequality Towards The LGBTQIA+ Community in The Past and Present U.S.
Paola Pietrosanti
ABSTRACT:
This paper focuses on the ongoing challenges faced by the LGBTQIA+ community in the United States in accessing equitable treatment and opportunities in multiple sectors. A starting point for understanding the issue is going to be an analysis of the Lavender Scare, the U.S. government’s systematic persecution of suspected homosexuals during the Cold War. Considering that historical precedent, the research navigates how discrimination and inequality towards LGBTQIA+ individuals persist today when it comes to the most important areas of human life: healthcare, employment, education, and mental health. In healthcare, disparities arise in the availability of high-quality care, the treatment healthcare professionals reserve for LGBTQIA+ individuals, and the consequent lack of policies that fully protect the community. In the employment sector, sexual discrimination is pervasive in the hiring process, career advancement, and working conditions, leading to disparities in salary and economic marginalization. For what regards education, American students who identify as LGBTQIA+ are often victims of harassment at school, which has a detrimental impact on their social lives and academic performance. Additionally, inequality has a significant effect on mental health outcomes, with higher rates of anxiety, depression, and suicide risk among LGBTQIA+ individuals. The study is supported by a thirty-year literature review of governmental reports and academic studies from 1993 to 2022. As a result, this paper seeks to promote awareness of the status of LGBTQIA+ rights and social justice in the United States and hopes to highlight the urgent need for more efficient anti-discrimination policies and holistic LGBTQIA+ inclusive practices.
keywords: LGBTQIA+ community, inequality, history, social studies, United States