Course

FYH 102 "Queer People, Queer Approaches"

Document Type

Student Paper

Publication Date

Spring 2021

Disciplines

Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies | Social Work

Description, Abstract, or Artist's Statement

Privileged groups consistently expect marginalized group identities to provide comfort, be it in the way the members actually showcase their identities, the work they do for society, or their general respect for the status quo. The queer community, specifically, has long been subject to prejudice and violence, and while tolerance is slowly increasing in the United States, the present day is no exception. Queer folks in the US are even much more likely to be homeless or in domestic violence situations than their heterosexual counterparts. Furthermore, once in vulnerable housing situations, queer folks are dangerously less likely to receive the necessary aid to achieve safety and regain their lives. Public perceptions of homeless people in general are nowhere near positive, from the supposed initial causes of homelessness to the length of time a person spends without secure housing. Furthermore, queer folks face risks of becoming homeless which those outside of the LGBTQ+ community may not encounter. There are gaps in the financial and legal systems, as well as social vulnerabilities like racial prejudice, heteronormativity, and transphobia which further endanger the queer community, especially in vulnerable situations. Each risk for these queer folks comes as a result of intolerance and negative public perception. Morphing these perceptions into education and sympathy will be the only solution. Moreover, the very notion that a person must fit their identity into something the general public feels comfortable with in order to deserve safety, comfort, and prosperity must be dissolved.