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Advocacy for the Rights of the LGBTQ Community as a Marginalized Group in Society
Advocacy for the Rights of the LGBTQ Community as a Marginalized Group in Society
Name
Institution
Date
Writer’s name
Address
State
Date
Legislative board member’s name
Legislative board member address
State
Dear Sir/ Madam
I’m writing this letter to you regarding the advocacy of marginalized groups in society, particularly the LGBTQ team. For years now, individuals who identify themselves as homosexual, bisexual or lesbian have been condemned for their stance and made to feel inferior and abnormal. As a marriage and family therapist and a member of the professional association, I have witnessed firsthand some of the challenges that marginalized people experience due to prejudice and the stereotypical nature of society. Discrimination against members of the LGBTQ community has adverse effects on their mental health and general wellness (Taylor, 2020). Some countries already have inclusive policies that cater to marginalized groups’ needs and ensure they are treated equally as heterosexual citizens. On the other hand, other countries still lag as far as the LGBTQ matter is concerned and still subject members of this group to mental and physical torture to conform them.
My fieldwork as a family and marriage therapist has enhanced my knowledge and experience to understand the significance of listening and considering the LGBTQ community. As an expert, it is my responsibility to view the issue from a personal and systemic view and advocate for their rights as diligent citizens. This marginalized group is likely to develop somatic symptoms, anxiety, suicidal behavior, and depressive effect compared to heterosexual individuals (Ali,2017). My ethical codes compel me to speak up on behalf of this marginalized group, condemn their discrimination and ill-treatment, and create awareness on inclusivity and unified society. Affirmative therapy has proved essential and influential in combatting the adverse effects of discrimination against members of the LGBTQ community. It validates the experiences and identities of different LGBTQ members in society by creating a safe space to express themselves and feel a sense of belonging altogether.
The primary objective of the advocacy for the rights of the LGBTQ family is to eliminate the conversion policy adopted by different cultures in the country that believe physical and mental torture will turn gay people heterosexual. This initiative also targets the discrimination of LGBTQ members in the employment sector and society in general. Subjecting these individuals to mental and physical torture because of their identities and sexual orientation is unfair, outdated, and shameful in the modern world. It disturbs their mental health, self-esteem, and ability to express themselves freely like the rest of the citizens (Lewis & Kern, 2018). Additionally, it causes physical injuries that hinder their productivity and ability to support their families and carry out their daily routines. For this reason, legislative protection must be employed to condemn and ban it from society henceforth.
The government working hand in hand with various LGBTQ programs has established strategies to eradicate the discrimination of marginalized groups in society. Human rights for LGBTQ people should be heightened and mandated to protect this vulnerable group. Additionally, the government needs to develop and implement policies that pin perpetrators and ensure they are punished accordingly. This plan will warn people from harassing, discriminating, or inflicting physical pain on gay individuals (Hull,2016). There is a need to create awareness in society regarding inclusivity significance and a unified front in all aspects of the country. Stakeholders should also monitor human rights violation patterns linked to the marginalized group and devise techniques to curb such practices. These policies will bring forth a society that works together for its betterment and focuses on much more significant issues affecting the nation. These policies create a sense of belonging to the LGBTQ community and allow them to tap into their potential and express themselves freely. Failure to take legislative action against prejudice on marginalized groups will see many cultures continue to practice the conversion culture and treat such sexual orientations as disorders.
It is undeniable that the discrimination of marginalized groups causes more harm than good. Since the government has the best interest of its citizens at heart, it should consider working hand in hand with experts like family and marriage therapists to ease the mental illness burden on the LGBTQ group. It is high time the government and stakeholders became serious and worked towards achieving a neutral community where everybody is somebody. People can look beyond gender or sexual orientation during interactions, especially in social settings.
I look forward to receiving your feedback and approval regarding the issue tabled. If you have any questions about the advocacy of the rights of the marginalized groups, feel free to communicate via email Email address@gmail.comYours Sincerely,
Name
Sign
References
Ali, D. (2017). Safe spaces and brave spaces. NASPA Research and Policy Institute, 2, 1-13.
Hull, K. E. (2016). Legal consciousness in marginalized groups: the case of LGBT people. Law & Social Inquiry, 41(3), 551-572.
Lewis, M. M., & Kern, S. (2018). Using education law as a tool to empower social justice leaders to promote LGBTQ inclusion. Educational administration quarterly, 54(5), 723-746.
Taylor, C. J. (2020). Health consequences of laws and public policies that target or protect marginalized populations. Sociology Compass, 14(2), e12753.
Advocacy Assignment
Advocacy Assignment
(Two-Part Assignment: Due by Oct 9 & Dec 4)
In a representative democracy form of government like we have in the United States, citizens elect policymakers at the local, state and federal level to represent their interests. As such, elected officials have a duty to be responsive to the needs of their constituents.
This semester, you will step into the role of an “unofficial actor” in the public policy making process at the local, state or federal level of government and evaluate the responsiveness of one of your elected officials. The first part of the assignment requires you to prepare a letter to one of your *elected representatives. It can be about a current policy/bill under consideration or a general policy concern that is specifically within that elected official’s jurisdiction (i.e. you would contact your city council representative or Mayor regarding concerns with homelessness, public safety or issues about a local park/street etc., but would not contact a city councilmember regarding immigration issues as those are policy decisions under the jurisdiction of Congress). Please email me if you want to ensure your policy issue is being addressed to the correct representative.
Part I: Draft a letter to one of your elected officials (city, county, state or federal) about a current policy/bill under consideration OR a policy concern that is in that government’s jurisdiction. See the attachments for a template (writing guide) and a writing sample. The assignment will be graded on your ability to choose the appropriate elected official and policy issue and writing quality (clarity and persuasiveness). Part I of the assignment is due by Sunday, Oct 9. As soon as you receive my feedback when the assignment is graded (and edit if major changes are suggested) you will email the correspondence to that elected official’s office or use the submission feature on that elected official’s website.
Part II: After (hopefully) receiving a response from that elected official’s office, you will provide a copy of the response and prepare a one or two paragraph (informal) analysis which includes: 1) Your critical review of the *elected official’s responsiveness to your concern – both in timeliness and addressing your specific concern; and 2) Any takeaways you want to share from the experience (i.e. convenience of a feature to contact an official directly through his/her website, observations that you started receiving unsolicited correspondence from the office; future opportunities you may take to get involved in the policymaking process etc). Part II can be turned in anytime during the semester after you are contacted by the elected official but no later than Sunday, Dec 4, 11:59 pm.
*NOTE: If you do not receive a response by the due date, you will not be penalized. For the second half of the assignment, please substitute the above instructions with a one paragraph critique of the elected official’s action in not responding to a constituent’s concern in a timely manner and how you believe this reflects on the elected official and his/her office.
*If you are not from San Diego, you could contact a representative from your hometown. If contacting a federal or state representative, you should use your permanent address and contact the appropriate official or they will likely not respond or refer the correspondence out of “legislative courtesy” to your representative. If you need help finding your elected representative, try your Registrar of Voters website. For San Diego County residents, go to sdvote.com. Click on “I want to.” Look for the “Find” Column and click on “My Districts/Representatives.” Insert the address of your residents and each of your elected representatives will be identified.
Advocacy Activity
Advocacy Activity
Talia Vallejo
University of Massachusetts Global
SOWK 505
Dr. Belloumini
February 17, 2022
Advocacy Activity
I have selected “End of Life” as my scenario, and the role I have chosen is “patients social worker in England”. All roles are very interesting, but I can relate most to this specific role. My scenario discusses the end-of-life planning for Anita, a recent stroke patient that lives happily in England. Because it is not legal in England to have this approach with end-of-life planning, Anita has chosen to contact a hospice in Norway that does assist in this area.
After putting much thought into how a social worker in England can assist Anita with planning her last days, I would first sit down with Anita, discuss her plans, and thoroughly understand her last wishes. As social workers, we must understand that the client is an essential stakeholder in this scenario. It is crucial to take an interest and evaluate the wellbeing of a patient under the end-of-life plan as far as their mental, physical, spiritual, and social aspects are concerned. Anita, for instance, should be positioned in a comfortable and neutral space to facilitate a smooth transition from life to death.
Identify an advocacy goal, a specific advocacy strategy that you would pursue in the situation to achieve your goal, and at least two stakeholders that you would include in your advocacy approach.
The grand goal of advocating and helping change how England handles end-of-life for their citizens may not happen with one person. Therefore, we need to include stakeholders specifically involved with patients, the elderly, and caregivers. Anita does not have any direct relationship with Norway. Her friends and neighbors are in England. She is happy in England and should therefore not have to go to Norway to plan the end of her life. These services need to be available to Anita and others going through this situation in England. End-of-life planning should not involve the government; this is a delicate issue and should be handled only by patients and loved ones.
Beginning with Anita, I would strategize a plan to initiate services for her. Anita, educated and once very active, can advocate for herself, at least a letter to the governing officials that preside over this legal decision. Anita, friends, her children, Palliative, and hospice workers are all stakeholders for Anita’s situation and others. The plan would have all stakeholders write letters of concern for Anita and ideas for changing this law. Each stakeholder has experience in this area or has come across the issue of not freely planning an end-of-life scenario. Hopefully, we will start there and get a response from an MP or Minister that feels the same.
Grasping the idea of how lobbying works in England is essential. Anita’s social worker must know who to reach out to who has a particular interest in the elderly population. In England, Lobbying is not a new practice, but it is not transparent. Not just anyone can lobby, and some even call it persuasion. Individuals must take their case to an MP, Minister, or official (Langton, 2021).
Explain why you chose your goal and strategy, including its strength or advantage over another goal or strategy that you might have chosen.
I have chosen a non-aggressive strategy, such as the rational decision-making model. Precisely because we don’t want to ruffle too many feathers. We want to solve a problem, not create one. Lobbying seems to be a delicate subject in England, and we don’t want to cause an adverse reaction for Anita. As Anita’s social worker, my goal and objective are to get a waiver or approval to plan her end of life as she sees fit. This action may trigger a domino effect and cause others dealing with the same situation to stand up to this injustice. Having an attitude directed at solving the problem is our strength in this situation.
We could also create another strategy under the basis of public choice theory. Focusing our attention on the people of England, specifically Anita’s neighborhood. We can go door to door, stand in front of the local market, explain our goal to anyone who will listen, and ask for signatures. This move can be another alternative strategy that will strengthen our case and bring more attention to the matter.
Discuss why you selected the stakeholders that you did, including the specific role they will have in your advocacy plan.
I chose Anita, her friends, family, Palliative and hospice workers to be the stakeholders in this scenario. First, Anita is her advocate in her situation. She is the individual with the one most at stake. Her heartfelt cry for change and justice can create a movement that will force decision-makers to change the end-of-life process in England. Anita’s social worker can inform her about the lobbying process and suggest certain avenues that should be taken to persuade MP’s and Ministers.
We can assume that Anita is not the first to lobby for this change. Anita’s social worker can contact certain groups in England who have attempted this change and inquire about what worked for them, who is willing to listen, and who has a deep concern for changing the process of end of life in England.
Secondly, Anita’s friends, who are also her neighbors, are residents in this specific area in England. They, too, have a concern for Anita and a personal one; sooner or later, they will have to deal with their end of life or for their loved one. They would also want to see change before that time comes. Their insight into Anita’s situation and overall concern being citizens of England is their duty to fight for something that all people of England deserve to be in charge of, their end of life.
Additionally, I have chosen Hospice and Palliative care workers who have seen this situation time after time and who specifically have a concern for their patients and family. These individuals will be able to speak from a medical standpoint and be informed of how a patient, specifically Anita’s quality of life, includes planning their own end of life freely.
Each stakeholder will write a letter to the local Minister, call to make sure they received the letter, and be available to speak on Anita’s behalf if needed. Each will provide their heartfelt plea and/or factual information to strengthen their case.
Identify how your goal advances human rights or social, economic, or environmental justice.
My goal is to fight for the rights of end-of life- patients and create an awareness of its significance to patience and their families. It is only fair that the dignity of end-of-life patience is protected and respected. The government of England needs to be sensitive and flexible enough to grace end-of-life patience and their families’ wishes (Verne, 2019). My goal advances human rights and social justice because at the end of the day Anita is still a citizen of England and deserve to be heard if England is truly a democratic nation. Anita has the right to be heard and served accordingly even as she awaits her death. A democratic and just government is one that puts every individual under their cover into consideration and do the best to achieve positive outcomes for the people and the body itself. I believe England should recognize, evaluate issues associated with end-of-life situations such as cultural practices, social and psychological impacts and spiritual matters before ruling out Anita’s case.
Supposing Anita would want her local priest or pastor to facilitate her last prayers before she dies? This will not be possible because she will have moved to a faraway distance and would have to receive the prayers from a totally different priest. Additionally, if Anita would insist on having the same priest carry out the prayers, they she would have to incur the flights costs of shipping the priest to and from England all the way to Norway, pay his accommodation, food and other utilities. It is safe to conclude therefore, that it’s not a wise economic choice.
The laws of England dictates that every citizen of the country has the right to decide the medical treatment they will receive and were (Robinson & Gott, 2020). This right covers the end-of-life patients as well. Limiting Anita’s choices and forcing her to spend her last days in an unfamiliar place will be violating this right and it unfair to her and her family. Like the rest of the citizens, her voice should be heard and respected. Pushing for this initiative would save Anita and her family transportation costs from England to Norway. Additionally, it would give a peace of mind to know she can spend time with her family, in her home town where she feels safe and comfortable. Solidarity among hospice patience, caregivers, family members and friends will push our agenda and help people like Anita be heard, respected and responded to appropriately moving forward.
Reference
Langton, K. (2021, April 16). Lobbying meaning: What is lobbying? Express.co.uk. Retrieved February 27, 2022, from https://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/1423452/Lobbying-meaning-what-is-lobbying-David-Cameron-Greensill-Capital-EVG
Robinson, J., & Gott, M. (2020). Death–a social justice issue. Kai Tiaki: Nursing Egland, 26(7), 28-29.
Verne, J. (2019). Assessing Palliative and End of Life Care Provision in England from a Human Rights Perspective. Translational and Clinical Medicine-Georgian Medical Journal, 4(2), 31.