LGBT Pride Month: Equality and Mental Health of LGBT+ Community

During the month of June, the rainbow pride flags fly around the globe, celebrating the LGBT Pride month when love, equality, and freedom are advocated. It also hopes to break the traditional prejudice and promotes the freedom to love regardless of sexuality.

After decades of the gay rights movement, same-sex marriage is legally performed and recognized in 29 countries as of today. Despite the increasing openness, some people are still yet to understand the diversity of sexual orientation. In conjunction with Pride Month, let’s support the community by learning more about the LGBT+ rights movement and their mental issues.

What is LGBT+?

Since many variants exist in the non-heterosexual, the acronym LGBTQIA is developed with the short form LGBT+. The below shows you what the letters stand for

• L: Lesbian
• G: Gay
• B: Bisexual
• T: Transgender
• Q: Queer / Questioning
• I: Intersex
• A: Asexual

LGBT+ Rights in Hong Kong

According to a 2019 phone survey done by the Centre for Communication and Public Opinion Survey under the School of Journalism and Communication, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, around 60% of the respondents strongly agree or agree that LGBT+ non-discrimination protection should be enacted in Hong Kong. It recorded a 4% increment compared with similar research conducted by the Gender Research Centre of The Chinese University of Hong Kong in 2016, showing a progression towards the issue. The survey also found that only 18% thought supporting or sponsoring Gay Pride harms corporate image, 10% less than the data in 2016.

However, 34% of the respondents expressed homonegativity in another phone survey carried out in 2017. Despite the gaining attention to LGBT+ rights, prejudice still exists in local society. With more promotion, education, and celebrity supporters, the movement has seemingly progressed in recent years.

Mental Health Issues in the LGBT+ Community

In 2019 and 2020, the Sexualities Research Programme of the Chinese University of Hong Kong collaborated with the Transgender Resource Center to conduct a survey on the mental health issues among the transgender. The result reflected that rejection, victimization, and discrimination were the rule rather than the exception in many of their lives. 76% of the respondents reported facing rejection in different dimensions of social life in their lifetime; 62% of the respondents reported having experienced different forms of victimization in their lifetime. LGBT+ individuals are at a greater risk of poor mental health (such as depression and suicidal behavior and thoughts) than cisgender heterosexual individuals.

In addition, a 2018 research report from CUHK concerning the mental health of the LGBT+ also proved the above findings. Among the 1,050 LGBT+ individuals who participated in the study, 64.5% experienced mild-to-severe depressive symptoms, showing that it is relatively common among the group. Apart from depression, they are also prone to social anxiety disorder which may adversely affect their daily life in severe cases.

How to Deal with Anxiety and Stress?

Whether you are straight, gay, bi, or with another sexual orientation, we all experienced anxiety and depression. When facing these emotions, we should relieve our stress properly, and accept and overcome them gradually. To avoid stressing out or deteriorating into greater mental health issues while not the problem itself, let’s find some way out below.

1. Talk with someone you trust

Ignoring or bursting out your stress is not good for your mental health. Meanwhile, why don’t you talk with your family members or friends? Not only does it relieves your stress, but also you may get some inspiration from others.

2. Shift your focus

Try shifting your focus to other areas rather than digging deep to the issues. Going for a walk, reading, drawing, or listening to music can calm you down and provide you peace of mind.

3. Write down your feelings

If you cannot find or are too shy to express your feelings verbally, you can write them down on paper to overcome emotional upsets and clarify your thoughts and feelings. You can also understand yourself better.

4. Exercise regularly

Regular exercise can relieve stress, clear negative energy and allow your mind to start afresh. Venting your anger through ball games or meditating through yoga can also help you find your inner peace.

Support the LGBT+ Community

Sources of stress are numerous for the LGBT+ community, such as religion, family and social life. At this moment, an inclusive society with love and care plays a crucial role in supporting LGBT+ individuals. These are the ways that you can back them on the difficult journey to equality.

1. Be a volunteer

Even though you do not consider yourself an LGBT+, you can also volunteer in the activities held by LGBT+ organizations. Through participation, you can meet some LGBT+ friends and understand what issues they are facing.

2. Participate in the Pride Parade

Hong Kong Pride Parade is held in November annually to promote LGBT+ rights and garner public attention to related issues. March together to express your support for the LGBT+ community.

Fear and discrimination cannot make the world better, but inclusion can. To build a harmonious society, we all should show empathy, understand and accept the diversity of thoughts and voices among us.