Lambda Legal Interview

Although awareness and support for LGBTQI+ communities is steadily growing, we still see demonization in the press, hatred from neighbors and discriminative employers. Here’s a non-profit organization working to remove harmful stigmas and criminalization of innocent people. 

Lambda Legal advocates for and protects the civil rights of the LGBTQI+ community through impact litigation, education and public policy work.

Find out how you can become a better ally for ostracized communities.

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April 30, 2021

How to Become a Better Ally: Tackling Harmful Stigmas in the LGBTQI+ Community

#198 Great.com Talks With... Lambda Legal

Massachusetts became the first state to legalize gay marriage in 2003, and since then 37 U.S. states have followed suit. Considering the issue of civil marriage rights has been a prominent topic since the early 70s, we see the process of achieving equitable rights is no meagre one. Shedrick Davis, from Lambda Legal is hopeful though; highlighting the vast progress we have made towards justice in the last 20 years. Who knows what the next 20 years will hold for the proper representation and recognition of LGBTQI+ rights? In this episode, we spoke about the past and current key issues that work to ostracize and ‘other’ lesbians, gay men, bisexual transgender people and those living with HIV.  

Transgender Folks Now at the Center of Hate Crime

Scare-mongering and misrepresentations of LGBTQI+ people are strife in the media - highlighted in recent years with vicious attacks on the transgender community. Transgender folks are openly condemned as a threat to ‘regular’ society, posing as predators and stealing opportunities from people ‘more worthy’. A recycled pattern formerly focused on gay men and lesbians; there is clearly a lot of work here still to be done. This is the exact rhetoric we see time and time again in the demonization of people of colour - pushing any person that doesn’t represent as white, cis-gendered, heterosexual, to the bottom of the pile to be feared and refused fair opportunities of employment and inclusion. 

“There is no evidence for any of the charges that are currently being brought up. Again, these charges have gone on for millennia in some form or fashion…But people use it to divide the communities and and to actually enact laws which restrict the ability of our transgender brothers and sisters to operate in our society.”

Davis explains how Lambda Legal take matters into their own hands: working to dispel the lies and mistruths that have been used throughout time to ensure that LGBTQI+ communities are subject to discrimination, disapproval, and restricted human rights. There needs to be constant action surrounding these issues, to tackle them with firm evidence and legal backing, in order to expand the circle of inclusion and equality. 

Listen to the whole interview to learn the pressing issues the LGBTQI+ community faces in achieving societal acceptance and civil rights. You can also explore the helpful resources on the Lambda Legal site, learn about your individual rights or donate directly to their cause. We don’t know what the future holds but we need to be ready to show empathy, open our hearts and continue to share our stories and advocate for equity and justice. 

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