Introduction
Strong societal orientation towards heterosexuality and consideration of other sexuality behaviors such as lesbianism, gay, and transgender, and queer members of the Latino community to be less normal and therefore impacting major barriers to them is wrong and oppressive in that it denies them the basic human rights requirements and reduces their overall contribution to the societal development. Non-heterosexuality in the Latino community is taken to be against their culture and therefore strongly rejected at different levels. However, the conservative nature of the community as Jael (36) explains, strongly conflicts with changes depicted by the modern society. Jael (41-42) further indicates that it is critical that the Latino community provide a holistic non-discriminatory system where all members of the community have equal rights irrespective of their sexual behavior orientation (Ford Foundation, 41-42). It is from this consideration that this paper critically explores how transgender members of the Latino community face key barriers in accessing different services. Besides, the paper further evaluates how they are considered not normal and further examines why heterosexuality is considered to the norm in the community.
Background of sexuality among the Latinos
Mark (78-79) explains that sexual identity over the years has remained a key facet in dictating the cultural orientation of the Latino Community. Research on sexual identity among the Latino community indicates that most of the youths in the society were les likely to disclose their sexual status among the Latino community for ear of discrimination and victimization in the society. Researchers further indicate that though Latino men were among the first to be discovered the cultural orientation towards heterosexuality is very strong among them. With the sexual identity being used as a key identifying factor in terms of determining the actual roles of an individual in the family and the relationship within the community, gay, lesbian, and bisexuals have therefore had hard time fitting themselves in the highly fixed social networks of friends, work and family in the society (Smith (49-50). With the rising awareness at the international community more of non-heterosexual Latinos have come out in the open to declare their status culminating to the current barriers and discrimination in the society. Nancy (96-97) argues that similar to other communities, it is no doubt that the Latino community will eventually have to accept the new trends in the modern world.
Reproductive justice and limitations encountered by Non-heterosexual members of the Latino community
The military policy and reproductive justice
Over the years, Meyer and Mary (39-40) indicate that the military has remained one of the most oppressive systems in curtailing reproductive justice to its members. Women are particularly overlooked in the military by their seniors as well as by their fellow colleagues in their routines. Though it has been kept at a low profile, women have generally been discouraged from getting into the military. For instance, women who are tied either by contract or by marriage to the military have reduced options towards aborting an unwanted pregnancy rights that previously totally hers.
In addition to that, while condoms are widely provided to men in their camps, routine operations and even in the theaters, the same consideration id absent for women. Ford Foundation (54-55) indicates contraceptives provision for women in the military are not provided for unless the commanders take the initiatives for the women in their groups. Therefore, it has been concluded that the military is very particular on protecting the male members in it from possible risks associated with sex but give very low regards for the females.
Nancy (105) indicates that privacy for women in the military is very limited or nonexistent. Though this concern has been raised over many occasions, it has not subsided at all. If a female member of the society for instance suspects that she is pregnant and therefore wants to have the pregnancy test, she must get a medic to prescribe for her and her results provided to the whole chain of command. Notably, this consideration does not consider whether the female military officer would like to abort or not. This is very oppressive as it denies the pregnant officer the choice over her health and indeed forms a platform for reducing the overall cohesion with her colleagues. George and Molly (100-101) argue that it further raises their stresses and even increases contemplation of suicide.
Discrimination in employments
The recently concluded presidential elections in the United States cemented the need to infer higher levels of democracy and the need for reducing levels of discrimination in all sectors. However, one of the most critical areas that have generated the most heated debates on discrimination is the employment sector. Unlike other key areas in the society, employment sector is considered essential due to the following considerations in the society.
Increasing dependency among non-heterosexuals in the country
Discriminating the different non-heterosexuals in society provides a major platform towards their direct dependence on the government and or their relatives in the society. Nancy (65-66) argues that though the federal government has taken time to enact the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, it ultimately narrows to shouldering the burden of supporting them through them through the welfare system. In tandem with the communities holistic religious culture, most of the employers have shifted the requirements for the employees that work in their industries and investments. As a result, non-heterosexual individuals have to rely on the present institutions for personal and professional demands. Following the recent human rights groups in the country emphasis on the need to reduce discrimination in the society, Mark (85-87) explains that large companies are increasingly assimilating non discriminatory methods in the society.
Higher levels of stereotypes in companies
Meyer and Mary (77-78) explain that the need to address all the members of the society equally cannot bee effective without support of the communities at all levels. While it is generally agreeable that the government is indeed providing the necessary support and further seeking to reach out to all, the communities to preach the need for harmonious coexistence as exhibited by the country during the last presidential general elections, non-heterosexual individuals have been pasted with key stereotypes that depict them very negatively in the society. Notably, the recent emphasis on increasing the core publicity and the need for their acceptance by the community has resulted to them being viewed as advocating for promiscuity in the community. However, Niels and Gilbert (60-61) indicate that this has however been taken too far through stereotypes at the company levels. Apart from the employers seeking to protect their businesses by only assimilating the employees who are acceptable in the society, even the employees equally reject them.
Discrimination in social benefits provisions in the nation
Notably, lack of the correct legal definition for non-heterosexuals and their roles in the society has remained a major barrier towards their holistic identity which is very critical for their inherent recognition at all levels. The social security administration as Smith (74-75) put it has got itself between the rock and a hard place as it tries to effectively fit them in a non-discriminatory situation. However, this consideration has resulted to major disputes as the officials are highly divided on the best action to take. At this point, Ford Foundation (16) indicates that the consideration becomes a major tug of war between ethical applications of the social security duties against execution of the law which do not recognize non-heterosexuals.
Discrimination in health care
Meyer and Mary (39-40) argue that non-heterosexual individuals discrimination have lacked the necessary legal back that can facilitate equal treatment in provision of health care services. Out of the fifty states, it is only five of them that have passed laws that recognize non-heterosexuals in the nation. As a result, the definition of the relationship is very difficult and indeed unacceptable to many of them. Under this consideration therefore, medical experts have directly been refusing to treat non-heterosexuals on the basis of their sexuality. In North Coast Womens Care Medical Group, standard procedures are denied for member of the lesbian community irrespective of whether they have the employers health care plan (George and Molly (104). Under this consideration therefore, the patients are often treated at highly exaggerated prices for the few medics who accept to treat them.
Societal rejection and poor association
Ford Foundation (32) indicates that following the negative stereo types that are associated with non-heterosexual behavior in the society, they are easily segregated and dissociated with by their age group mates. Ford Foundation (32) adds that once an individual has been reported to be gay, other members of the same group dissociate with him as they fear being considered to be involved with the same behavior. As a result, they tend to be segregated and can only freely relate with members of their sexual orientation. Under this consideration therefore, they are unable to participate and contribute to the normal activities of the society. This is highly traumatizing and culminates to majority of non-heterosexuality members hiding their affiliation in the society. As a result, many of them may result to suffering from psychological disorders in the society.
4) Why heterosexuality among the Latinos is considered the norm
a) Religious affiliation
Smith (77-78) indicates that religious affiliation among the Latino community has remained a key element in generating their holistic identity in the society. From their historical derivation, the Latino community has had a strong derivation towards heterosexuality not only as part of their further identity in the community but a particularistic demand from God. According to Mark (93-94), over 75 of the Latino community are Christians who belief in the teaching of the bible. Notably, being gay is considered to be a strong offense against God due to the strong negative repercussions defined for it. In the book of Genesis which Nancy (112-113) indicates that Christians have strongly clung to, creation of Adam and Eve as the main example presented by God for them to follow. Notably, the resistance and consideration of non-heterosexual individuals in the Latino community has been extrapolated indicate the non-fruitful nature of these types of relationships. After creation of Adam and Eve, God demanded that they multiply and fill the earth, a consideration viewed to be impossible from sexual relationship of the people belonging from the same sex.
Further religious outlook assimilated by the Latino community is that sexual institution is a holy relationship that must be kept holy at all times. Meyer and Mary (45) indicate that particular notion of Sodom destruction due to the people assimilating gay relationship further indicates the core repercussions that would befall the people who go out of heterosexuality behavior in the society. Under this consideration therefore, people are considered not normal in the community and people would like to dissociate with them.
b) Lack of clear supportive laws
In their view, George and Molly (103) lack of effective laws that support non-heterosexuality has been a major factor towards negative views of the community in the society. Though various states have sought to entrench laws that support non-heterosexuality in the society, little success have been made. Currently, the federal state does not recognize marriage between people of the same sex. Rubenstein (19-20), explains that the Defense of Marriage Act indeed denounces such relationship in the community. This has further raised the Latinos orientation towards heterosexuality. Out of the fifty United States, it is only five of them that have permitted non-heterosexuality in their jurisdiction. In the state of California, same sex marriage was in the year 2008 was considered to be against the constitution and therefore the ban was reinstated.
Rubenstein (24-25) indicates that in the state of Washington DC and New York, same sex marriage even though it is recognized. In concurrence with Ford Foundation (21-22) non-heterosexuality is therefore depicted to be an unlawful and therefore an action that people should desist from. However, this consideration has further remained a center of the major debate as more people seek to generate a heated debate on whether to legalize non-heterosexuality or not.
Conclusion
The community as it came out in the discussion has over thee years tended to be highly conservative and therefore oriented towards heterosexuality. As a result, majority of their members have tended to look down upon the non-heterosexuality behavior in the society. Therefore, great discrimination has culminated in the society with key negative repercussions. Besides, majority of the employers and other areas of professional application have also culminated to great levels of discrimination for non heterosexuals in the community. However, it is lack of clear supportive laws that have led to non-heterosexuals being barred from accessing key facilities and various benefits in the society. It is from this consideration therefore that this paper concludes by supporting the thesis statement, strong societal orientation towards heterosexuality and consideration of other sexuality behaviors such as lesbianism, gay, and transgender, and queer members of the Latino community to be less normal and therefore impacting major barriers to them is wrong and oppressive in that it denies them the basic human rights requirements and reduces their overall contribution to the societal development.
It is therefore essential that the Latino community change its view towards lesbianism, gay, and transgender, and queer members to ensure that all people have equal rights and can be able to contribute effectively toward community growth and development.
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