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Are Trans/LGBTQ Needs Being Met in Mental Healthcare?
The world has changed, and one of the changes is how we see ourselves and how we wish to be seen in terms of personhood, which presents many challenges for everyone.
The days of the “lavender closet/scare” may be over, as are the police raids on gay bars and Mafia ownership supporting the police activities, and young men being “tuned up” by officers. But we’re not where many would like us to be, and although strides have been made in marriage equality and a more informed society, there is much to be done. Everyone in the LGBTQ community is not safe, as we’ve seen from the mass murders of anyone identifying with this group or almost anyone anywhere in the US over the past few years.
The numbers of individuals in this identified group are not insignificant, but they may not be accurate, either, because of the stigma and danger we’re seeing. Over one million people over the age of 13 identify as transgender in the US, but that’s only one part of the whole LGBTQ group.
It is essential to assess whether the mental healthcare system sufficiently fulfills the needs of transgender and LGBTQ people to achieve the goal of a diverse and accepting society. Because of the particular difficulties this community faces, it is essential to have a thorough grasp of their circumstances and offer supportive treatment.
