Socio-demographics
Before analyzing how social, education, and healthcare systems perpetuate disparities for the LGBTQ community, it is important to have a basic comprehension of Laredo's socio-economic and political structures. Laredo, Texas is a U.S.- Mexico border town that is homogenously of Hispanic or Latino (95%) ethnicity. According to the 2010 Census 30% of people residing in Webb County live below the poverty line. The median Laredo household income is approximately $39, 711.00 ($14,000 dollars less than the U.S. household income). Education is significantly lower in Laredo when compared to state and federal levels. For example, high school completion rates in Laredo (66%) are significantly lower than those of the state of Texas (82%). Higher education rates are also substantially low, with a mere 17% of residents holding a Bachelor’s degree or higher (Census.gov, 2010). For rural, low income areas like Laredo, Texas research into education, healthcare, and income disparities among its LGBT community could prove important for developing effective health intervention programs, equal rights policies and practices, and fair access to educational resources.
Living in the rural U.S.-Mexico
borderlands and being a person that is gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, or
queer can be brutal. On a daily basis,
we are exposed to and bombarded with bi-cultural constructs that explicitly and implicitly
promote homophobia and heterosexism. Consequently, individuals are coerced to
internalize feelings of displacement and disconnect amongst themselves and the
general community. The result is a LGBTQ community that becomes fragmented and
alienated.
Because of their sexual orientation
or gender identity, LGBTQ individuals from low socio-economic status are
subject to endure additional psycho-social stressors that not experienced by heteronormative
individuals. That is to say, in Laredo poverty, illiteracy, and illness may be
more prevalent within the LGBTQ community than in the general public; not
because of some biological disposition of inferiority (a common belief among Laredo's religious conservatives), rather because, openly
LGBTQ individuals are less “accepted” by the social and culture mainstream. Subsequently,
the manifestation of the social discord between the communities creates
significant barriers (i.e. restricted or limited access) that adversely affect
LGBTQ individual and community goals and resources.
What is "Heterosexism" ?
Heterosexism is discrimination or bias that favors heterosexuality (i.e. straight) over
homosexuality; heterosexism perpetuates the idea that being straight is normal
while being gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender or queer is abnormal. Heterosexism
effects Laredo’s LGBTQ community in many distinct way. For example:
· We do not always have the ability to talk openly, comfortably, without fear of judgment about one’s friends, social activities, and personal relationships.
· We sometimes have our “normalcy” questioned.
· We are discouraged or not allowed to show affection in public with one’s partner without fear of negative reaction or hostility.
· Our ability to be “fit” parents is often questioned.
· We are sometimes denied rights to job security and freedom from sanctioned discrimination.
· We are sometimes denied rights to family and medical leave for a partner.
· We are sometimes denied our right to human dignity.
References: Gendered Worlds (2010)
