Immigration to Canada

Immigration is a process many people go through in order to make a permanent move to a new, foreign country.  People immigrate to a new country for many reasons, one however is the lack of acceptance many countries have for the LGBTTQ* community.  For example, in recent news, Nigeria started the process of implementing a new bill which would make same-sex marriage criminalized and attached a jail time of five years to the offence (Eboh, 2011).  While discrimination against the LGBTTQ* people is very prevalent in Canada, it is legal for people to be non-heterosexual.  Because of countries like Nigeria, Canada is a place where immigrants and refugees can go to escape the homophobic governments that run their home country. 

However, the fact that Canada has open arms for LGBTTQ* immigrants and refugees was very close to not making it in to the immigrant study guide, “Discover Canada: The Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship”, due to the homophobic Citizenship and Immigration Minister, Jason Kenney.  According to Beeby (2011), the initial copy of the immigrant study guide lacked any content on gay and lesbian rights.   The booklet, which is a required reading for all new immigrants to Canada, has since been updated to include one, single sentence on gay and lesbian rights, however, it still lacks any reference to the transgendered population of Canada (Millette, 2011).  Due to that fact that Kenney is of the Conservative Party  it is a good step in the right direction that he included anything on gay and lesbian rights, even if it was not until a rewrite was demanded.

To make up for his blatant act of discrimination against the LGBTTQ* community, Kenney has now teamed up with the Rainbow Refugee Committee in an effort to help refugees needing protection due to their sexual orientation.  According to Citizenship and Immigration Canada (2011), “Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) will partner with the Rainbow Refugee Committee to share the cost of sponsoring a refugee”. While this so far appears to be a wonderful program put in place, we need to remember Kenney’s history being unsupportive of the rights for the LGBTTQ* community.  Could it be a change of heart? I most certainly hope so, but due to my skeptical nature I am not completely convince.  So Minister Kenney, while we support this program, please keep in mind that those in support of the rights of the LGBTTQ* community are keeping a close, careful eye on you.

References:

Beeby, D. (2011). Immigration Minister pulled gay rights from citizenship guide, documents show. Retrieved from http://www.theglobeandmail.com

Citizen and Immigration Canada. (2011). News Release — Government of Canada to help gay and lesbian refugees fleeing persecution. Retrieved from http://www.cic.gc.ca/

Eboh, C. (2011). Nigerian bill would punish gay marriage with five years in jail. Retrieved from http://www.nationalpost.com

Millette, R. (2011). New Canadian immigrant study guide includes references to gay rights. Retrieved  from http://www.lifesitesnews.com

Sexual minority Refugees in search of freedom

I have come to learn that there are many LGBTTQ* refugees that have fled their land of origin to escape persecution because of their sexual identity. According to Citizenship and Immigration Canada (March 24, 2011), there are “seventy-seven countries [that] continue to criminalize homosexuality and five prescribe the death penalty,” (para. 4). This is horrific! No one should be subjected to persecution because of their sexual identity, especially not the death penalty. Many of these sexual minorities relocate to a safe country, such as Canada, in search of a better life and future. However, some LGBTTQ* immigrants who are seeking refuge in Canada face barriers because they do not take up residency in Canada during their allotted time they are granted (1 year) after leaving their home country (Young, 2009).

I feel that before decision-makers deny LGBTTQ* refugees Canadian citizenship, they should to take into account the reasons as to why LGBTTQ* refugees have not taken up citizenship in our country within a year after leaving their native country. For example, same-sex refugee couples may first migrate to the United States and later learn that some states ban same-sex marriages and ban same-sex couples from adopting a child, as opposed to Canada, which does not have such a ban on marriage and child adoption (Young, 2009). Another reason is that sexual minority refugees may be uninformed that Canada accepts refugee claims based on sexual orientation and gender identity in which the countries that accept refugee sexual minorities may have states that ban same-sex (Young, 2009). Therefore, I feel when Canada questions the reasoning for sexual minorities who do not to take up refuge in another country, such as the United Sates, they should look into the subjective reasoning as to why sexual minorities have not done so, as many are unaware of the supportive gesture of such countries.

The Canadian government has shown its support to many refugees who have escaped prosecution from their homelands. According to Citizenship and Immigration Canada (March 24, 2011), “Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) will partner with the Rainbow Refugee Committee (RFC) to share the cost of sponsoring a refugee” (para.  3). Regardless of a person’s sexual orientation, the Canadian government will sponsor individuals or couples for 3 years (George, 2003). I believe that in order for these sexual minority refugees to carry on in our Canadian mosaic, they need to be provided with many services and supports. I cannot imagine going into another country and not knowing what it takes in order to survive in that new cultural context. Thankfully, the CIC has partnered with the RFC to sponsor sexual minority immigrants by providing them with local resources and services, food, shelter, clothing and so on, in order to help these sexual minority immigrants have a smooth transition into our Canadian culture (Citizenship and Immigration Canada, March 24, 2011).

I believe LGBTTQ* refugees that migrate to Canada should have the opportunity to have their voices heard without judgment by our Canadian government, as everyone has a voice that needs to be heard.  If people in power are able to listen to the voices of sexual minorities - as opposed to judging them in terms of their track record as to where they have been residing around the world – they may be better able to understand their reasoning for wanting to take refuge in Canada. I am thankful to learn that our Canadian government has opened up its doors to allow sexual minority refugees to reside in our country, as well as working towards providing resources that will assist them in their  transition into Canada’s cultural mosaic. 

- Stephanie M. 

References

Young, J. (2009). The alternate refuge concept: A source of systematic disadvantage to sexual minority refugee claimants. University of New Brunswick Law Journal, 60,   294-337. 

Citizenship and Immigration Canada. (2011, March 24). Government of Canada to help gay and lesbian refugees feeling persecution. Retrieved from http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/department/media/releases/2011/2011-03-24.asp

George, U. (2003). Immigration and refugee policy in Canada: Past, present, and future. In A. Westhues (Ed.), Canadian social policy: Issues and perspectives. Waterloo, ON: Wilfrid Laurier University Press, 145-163. 

The Double Stigma

About 20% of people will develop a mental disorder (The Science of Mental Illness, 2005) which will enable them to live to their life’s full potential.  A mental illness can include depression bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and obsessive compulsive disorder.  It can affect their thinking, feelings and behaviour (The Science of Mental Illness, 2005) and can lead to loss of employment resulting in poverty and even homelessness (Wilton, 2004).  They are slapped with a social stigma due to something out of their control (Wilton, 2004) and have to go on hearing ignorant comments that people who have a mental illness are crazy, dangerous should be kept in an institution, or that it is so simple as to just get over it (The Science of Mental Illness, 2005).  Now add that on top of being LGBTTQ* and bam you got a double stigma.  LGBTTQ* people with a mental illness are discriminated against by mental health services for being LGBTTQ* and by their community for having a mental illness (Kidd, Veltman, Gately, Chan, and Cohen, 2011).  With almost no one to turn to for support how can people expect them to get better?

People who fit the criteria for help will get the support they need (Wilton, 2004) but where do the LGBTTQ* people with a mental illness fit if even their own community will not accept them.  People with a mental illness should seek help from a professional and LGBTTQ* people are reluctant to seek help especially when the service is perceived to be heterosexist (Kidd, 2011).  They need positive relationships and supports with friends and family as well as maintaining an active lifestyle which can all help their mental illness (Wilton, 2004).  This can be quite hard for an LGBTTQ* person who has not received the support from friends and family or is discriminated against to take part in leisure activities.  There seem to be all these barriers enabling them to get better.  Mental illness can be very prevalent in the LGBTTQ* community due to these factors; they are the victims, from a young age, of hate crimes, harassment, and physical and sexual assault (RHO. 2011).  They try to hide their sexuality which leads to this inner turmoil and having unsatisfying romantic relationships again can all contribute to the cause of their mental illness (Kidd et al., 2011).  The excess stress they experience can cause cortisol production in the body which can increase depression, suicidal thoughts and anxiety (RHO, 2011).  Everything that they have been through can lead them to this mental illness and once there they are faced with even more challenges on how to cope, get better and just be themselves for once or again.

To my surprise all three forms of government, liberal, NDP, and the PC have put out documents to improve mental health care (Wilton, 2004).  The fact that these were put over 10 years ago and still there is this stigma, to me, shows nothing came from them which is not a surprise.  Thankfully there are other efforts out there to support specifically LGBTTQ* people with a mental illness.  After many suicides of LGBTTQ* youth took place author Dan Savage started the “It gets better” campaign which is for LGBTTQ* youth to watch and make videos of inspirational thoughts of how after high school life will get better (RHO, 2011).  This can give the youth hope and maybe prevent a mental illness from occurring.  There is also a support line (1 800 268 9688) for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered people under the age of 26 to call if they are in need of someone to talk to (RHO, 2011).  Parents, friends of lesbians and gays  (PFLAG) is a great organization to help the people around an LGBTTQ* person with a mental illness learn how to help, offer support, and protect them from stress (RHO, 2011).  Bottom line nobody should be judged due to race, age, culture, religion, gender identity, sexuality, or mental illness.  Do not give people a stigma or double stigma for that matter; nobody should be ashamed of something that is out of their control.

Peace and Love

Brittany

References:

Kidd, S. A., Veltman, A., Gately, C., Chan, K. J., & Cohen, J. N. (2001). Lesbian, Gay, and Transgender Persons with Severe Mental Illness: Negotiating Wellness in the Context of Multiple Sources of Stigma. American Journal of Psychiatric Rehabilitation, 14(1), 13-39. doi: 10.1080/15487768.2011.546277

Rainbow Health Ontario Fact Sheet. (June, 2011). RHO Fact Sheet: LGBT Mental Health. Retrieved from http://www.rainbowhealthontario.ca/admin/contentEngine/contentDocuments/LGBT_Mental_Health.pdf  

The Science of Mental Illness. (2005). Information about mental illness and the brain. Retrieved from http://science.education.nih.gov/supplements/nih5/mental/guide/info-mental-a.htm

Wilton, R. (2004) Putting policy into practice? Poverty and people with serious mental illness. Social Science and Medicine, 58(1), 25-39

Effects of Coming Out on Mental Health

                 People can be stigmatized for various factors, both visible and invisible, in today’s society.  The sorts of prejudice that most likely come to mind first include being oppressed for a visible identity; such as race or gender, but invisible factors, such as mental health, can also lead to people feeling oppressed.  People with mental illnesses are heavily concentrated among the society’s poor; these intersecting oppressions impact every aspect of an individual’s quality of life (Wilton, 2003).  People from all oppressed groups may also have mental illness, making it an important, yet often invisible, concern for marginalized groups; LGBTTQ* are no exception.

            Queer culture has a strange history with psychology.  It was psychologists that originally created the category “homosexual.”  Well, I don’t mean category so much as I mean diagnostic term, because so called homosexuality was pathologized by the medical community, with lesbians and gay men seen as “sick products of disturbed upbringings” (Coyle, 2002).   Homosexuality was a mental health diagnosis till the 1970’s. 

            The stigma attached to being LGBTTQ* contributes to many peoples decision to keep that part of their identity a secret.  Decisions whether or not to come out are often linked to familial, societal, and cultural attitudes toward ‘homosexuality’ (Coyle, 2002).  Usually, only after carefully weighing up all the pros and cons associated with being LGBTTQ* can the identity formation process, and ultimately discloser, begin (Coyle, 2002).  There is a lack of research around identity formation, which is the process of movement into (and out of, and between) categories of sexual identity (Coyle, 2002).  Identity formation may (or may not) lead to coming out; which is the process of identifying ones self as something other than heterosexual and the disclosure of this to others (Clarke, 2010).  Coming out  happens in two steps: first to self, then to others.  Coming out has important mental health benefits.  Self disclosure is important; individuals need to feel that they are loved and valued for who they really are and not who they are pretending to be (Clarke, 2010).  Authenticity and integrity are important factors for good mental health.  Also, being “closeted” is extremely stressful; one must live with the constant threat of being discovered. 

Individuals often describe feeling very alone after coming out to self, this is especially true if they do not know anyone else who identifies as other than heterosexual (and, LGBTTQ* role models are sorely lacking in popular media) (Coyle, 2002).  The process of coming out to oneself is often gradual, and emotionally based; whereas the decision to come out to others is often based on situational factors and perceptions of others reactions (Coyle, 2002).  Reasons not to come out include protecting others, lack of necessity to tell certain people, negative attitudes, and fearing rejection.  Risks and benefits of self disclosure are carefully measured; underlying the decision making process are internalized societal norms (Coyle, 2002). 

The disclosure to friends and family of an identity other than heterosexual is often an important milestone, though the process can be extremely stressful (Clarke, 2010).  Though coming out is usually assumed to be a positive event, it is not always viable or even safe.  It may result in loosing important support structures and jeopardizing important familial relationships (Clarke, 2010).  To balance the risks and benefits of coming out, many LGBTTQ* people may choose to come out in some, but not all instances. 

Love & Rage

Julianna

Clarke, V., Ellis, S., Peel, E., & Riggs, D. (2010).  Lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, & queer

            psychology. Cambridge University Press, NY: New York

Coyle, A., & Kitzinger, C. (2002). Lesbian and gay psychology.  MA: Malden, Blackwell

Publishers Ltd

Wilton, R. (2004) Putting policy in practice?  Poverty and people with serious mental

            illness. Social Sciences and Medicine, 58: 25-39  

Bullying, the Harsh Reality

It is all over the news.  The headline reads “Jamie Hubley, Gay 15-Year-Old Ottawa, Canada Teen Commits Suicide, Cites Depression, School Troubles” (Huffington Post, 2011).  Junior high and high school are a difficult time for any adolescent, but with the all the recent news and media on LGBTTQ* teen suicides it has become evident that being a member of this community during adolescence creates a whole new barrier to surviving this trying time.  “Homosexual youth are often harassed and sometimes physically abused at school” (Ward & Belanger, 2011).  I remember the two girls that came out in my high school, one lesbian and one bisexual, both of which were in my out of school depression support group.  The lesbian was constantly referred to as a “dyke” and the bisexual was always being bullied into choosing whether it was males or females she wanted.  People did not understand and they had no intention of trying.  The boy who came out for being gay was laughed at for trying out for sports teams and was forced by his classmates to change in the bathroom stall.  He tried to find humour in it but slowly he started skipping gym and avoiding sports altogether.  Although we all gave each other support for depression I never understood the struggle that their sexual orientation contributed.

According to Boyd, Bee, and Johnson (2009), the second leading cause of death among Canadian young people aged 15 to 19 is suicide (p. 349).  Depression is a very real thing and unfortunately for so many it does lead to suicide.  The Public Health Agency of Canada (2009), states that among other socio-economic factors, depression can be a result of prejudice. In my high school, a common solution to bullying for whatever the reason might have been was to provide the victim with counselling.  The bully rarely received more than “don’t do it” speech and prevention was never thought of.  My school did so little to address the bullying issue that unless you were a victim no one paid attention to it and the victims stopped looking for help.  Many became hopeless, and depression stemmed from those feelings of despair and pain. 

The depression that bullying can cause to a person is a harsh reality.  It can cause them to lose sight of their future, the goals they wish to accomplish and who they ultimately aspire to become.  For LGBTTQ* youth, the discovery of their sexual orientation and the coming out process should be a good experience.  However, bullying and homophobia from peers can attach negativity and fear to coming out.  As I stated early, prejudice can lead to depression.  Hearing negative words such as “fag”, “dyke”, and “homo” can be detrimental to an LGBTTQ* youth who is discovering their sexual orientation or their gender identity. I am happy to see anti-bullying against the LGBTTQ* becoming an important issue.  Movements such as the Purple Letter Campaign and the It Gets Better Project hope to accomplish a safer world for the LGBTTQ* youth by getting bills put in place to protect them as they go through their adolescent years.   

-Katelyn

References:

Boyd, D., Bee, H., & Johnson, P. (2009). Lifespan development. New Jersey: Pearson Education, Inc.

Huffington Post. (2011). Jamie Hubley, gay 15-year-old Ottawa, Canada teen commits suicide, cites depression, school troubles. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com

Public Health Agency of Canada. (2009). What is depression? Retrieved from http:// http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca

Ward, M., & Belanger, M. (2011). The family dynamic. Ontario : Nelson Education Ltd.

Immigrations Minister Searching for Air!

LGBT immigrants and refugees are a group that we often don’t think about. I honestly hadn’t even thought about this particular type of situation until I had to sit down and write about it and honestly, I am shocked. In the example I will give, it is true what Mullaly(2007) said, “the view the oppressors hold of the oppressed is that they constitute a dangerous class that must be controlled for the good of the whole society.” Immigration minister Jason Kenney, in the past year or so, decided to take out the “gay rights” from the citizenship guide. (theglobeandmail,2011) It caused a major uproar within the LGBT community, as they felt they were no longer important enough to be spoken about to prospective Canadian citizens who could be identifying as LGBT as well. I find that to be incredibly offensive, yet he made excuses saying there wasn’t enough room in the guide for EVERY right and policy. (theglobeandmail,2011) You have got to be kidding me.

                Afterwards, Minister Kenny appeared to find his common sense and proceeded to make a promise to the LGBT immigrants and refugees. It is a pilot project that will give $100,000 in assistance for the first three months to every immigrant or refugee identifying as part of the LGBT group. (thestar, 2011) As well as the Rainbow committee will be in charge of orientation service, food, accommodation and other basic needs. (thestar,2011)After this big announcement of the huge amazing pilot project for the LGBT immigration and refugees, Minister Kenny added the gay rights back into the citizenship guide due to huge controversy. (thestar,2011) I cannot say that this project is a bad idea, in fact I think it’s a great idea and it should’ve been thought of before but the basis on which the project was built, is guilt and I don’t think it should have gotten to that point. I believe that minister Kenny should apologize for what he had done, it was an utter disgrace and I found it revolting how someone could make excuses for their almost homophobic actions.

                As I kept searching for more information on this situation, I found a site on which they wrote an article about it but from a transgendered perspective. In fact, Minister Kenny never directly includes the transgendered into this project, only states LGBT, sexual minorities (which the article stated was the incorrect term) and at one point states sexual orientation but not gender identity. (transpedianews, 2011) I wonder if Minister Kenny will fight for all of LGBT, or simply those who identify as gay, lesbian or bisexual. These immigrants and refugees deserve the best and that’s what we as a nation should give them. It is unfortunate that the gay rights were taken out of the citizenship guide at all, the project is a good start and we should keep going. Everyone deserves a chance at a safe life, no matter sexual orientation, gender identity, race, ethnicity or culture.

Belinda

References

Beeby, Dean. (march 14, 2011). Immigration Minister pulled gay rights from citizenship guide, documents show. Retrieved from: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/immigration-minister-pulled-gay-rights-from-citizenship-guide-documents-show/article1486935/page2/

Heather. (March 28^th, 2011). Citizenship and Immigration Canada to help Trans Refugees. Retrieved from: http://transpedianews.com/?p=212

Keung, Nicholas. (march 24^th, 2011). Canada to assist persecuted gay refugees. Retrieved from: http://www.thestar.com/news/investigations/immigration/article/959975--canada-to-assist-persecuted-gay-refugees

Mullaly, R. (2007). The new structural social work (3^rd Ed.) Don Mills, ON: Oxford University Press

The Unaccepted Blood Type

It is not a secret that there is a discriminatory attitude held towards those of the LGBTTQ* community, especially when it comes to the topic of the spread of HIV.  In Canada, there is currently a blood ban put on men who have sex with men (MSM), including gay and bisexual men.  According to Canadian Blood Services (2011), “Canadian public health data show that the MSM category is the highest risk for new HIV/AIDS cases”.  While the ban currently does not permit the MSM category from ever being able to donating blood, the Canadian Blood Services has opened the policy for re‑examination.  Canadian Blood Services aim would be to decrease the policy from being a permanent ban to less than 10 years but more than five years, any changes to this policy would need to be approved by Health Canada (Canadian Blood Services, 2011).

It can be argued however that the time length of the ban is not the problem with the policy.  If a man who is sexually promiscuous with women does not use protection is he more of an ideal blood donor than two gay men who are in a monogamous relationship? According to Lovell and Rosenberg (2011), when the disease initially started to spread across North America it so strongly affected the gay community that it held the label of GRID, Gay Related Immune Disease (p. 111).  The blood ban incorrectly places the risk of the spread of HIV on the sexual orientation, instead of the sexual behaviour.  We live in an advanced world where latex condoms are proven to protect against HIV. So if a man choses to have protected sex with other men he has taken the same, necessary steps to avoid the risk of transmission as a heterosexual male who has also chosen to use a latex condom.

By placing a blood ban on the MSM community and women who have had sex with someone from the MSM community, society has placed an unrealistic sense of security for those who identify as “straight” or heterosexual.  HIV can and is contracted by heterosexual people.  As stated by Nester, Anderson, Roberts, and Nester (2009), “heterosexual spread of HIV is increasing and promises to become the dominant mode of transmission”(p. 705). Is it important to have polices that take precautions so that HIV does not get passed through a blood transfusion? Of course it is important, in fact, every blood donation is tested for HIV (Canadian Blood Services, 2011). However, let us put in place a policy that puts the risk of transmission on sexual behaviour, not on sexual orientation. 

-Katelyn 

References

Canadian Blood Services. (2011). Canadian Blood Services policy on excluding men who have had sex with men (MSM) from donating blood. Retrieved from http://www.blood.ca

Canadian Blood Services. (2011). HIV and AIDS. Retrieved from http://www.blood.ca

Lovell, S.A., & Rosenberg, M.W. (2009). Community capacity amongst people living with HIV/AIDS. Geojournal, 76, 111-121. doi: 10.1007/s10708-009-9289-2

Nester, E.W., Anderson, D.G., Roberts, C.E., & Nester, M.T. (2009). Microbiology: a human perspective (6^th ed). New York: McGraw-Hill