User:JHeber10/Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the LGBT community

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Impact on Health COVID-19 has had a significant impact on the health of marginalized communities. LGBTQ+ people are more likely to be immunocompromised and disabled compared to the general population. The Centre for Disease Control reported that 90 percent of hospitalized patients were those who had at least one underlying condition before contracting COVID-19. Because LGBTQ+ people are more likely to have pre-existing health conditions, it worsens their chances of survival if they became infected with COVID-19. Globally, COVID-19 delays have also further delayed gender-affirming surgeries and gender-affirming care for gender minorities, which is associated with lower mental health outcomes Impact on social support Many people felt the impacts of social isolation during lockdowns because of less socialization time with friends and family. Lockdowns limited social support networks in a variety of ways. LGBTQ+ people often identify receiving social support from chosen family, which are people in their social networks they feel safe with and affirmed by.[19] Lockdown restricted the social networks of LGBTQ+ people.[20] Overall, gender and sexual minorities experienced lower perceived social support during the pandemic compared to their heterosexual and cisgender counterparts.[21] LGBTQ+ Youth There are also concerns about reduced social support and resources that are available for LGBTQ+ people during COVID-19, particularly those who are homeless and in unsafe family environments.[22] Some students were forced to stay with unsupportive families and were sent home early from campus to families that do not support them, which increased depression and anxiety.[23] COVID-19 has led to an increase in family violence in which LGBTQ+ youth are victimized.[24] During the pandemic, many LGBTQ+ people, especially youth turned to social media for community, affirmation, and support. Online-text based platforms that allowed LGBTQ+ youth to chat helped to increase youth's sense of safety due to not fearing being overhead by family. Also, online text-based platforms offered youth a safe space to connect with others without the fear of contracting and spreading COVID-19.

LGBTQ+ Seniors Ageist attitudes have been especially prevalent during COVID-19.[26] Seniors and people who are immunocompromised are more vulnerable to severe illness from COVID-19.[27] Many pre-existing barriers and inequities were exacerbated during COVID-19 for older populations. Some older trans people expressed feeling a lack of social support because of experiences of both transphobic discrimination and ageism.[28] For some seniors, connections to LGBTQ+ communities felt severely disconnected because of COVID-19, which restricted access to activities and interactions in queer community.[29] Compared to heterosexual and cisgender seniors, LGBTQ+ older adults are more likely to live alone and experience higher social isolation.[30] Also, about a quarter of seniors feel that they have no one to call in the case of an emergency.[31] As such, some older adults may have less support and access to services during COVID-19. Older LGBTQ+ adults are also more likely to be estranged from biological families and rely more on chosen family supports as they age. During COVID-19, LGBTQ+ older adults relied more on the help of chosen family than biological family.[32] Despite numerous challenges during the pandemic, LGBTQ+ communities have shown resiliency and found ways to adapt through personal strength, community care, and acceptance.[33]

Economic and employment impact[edit source] COVID-19 has resulted in job losses and financial insecurities, especially for marginalized populations. Before the pandemic, trans and non-binary people were commonly low-income and underemployed because of systemic discrimination.[35] In addition, members of the LGBTQ+ community tend to be employed in industries which are more likely to have been economically impacted negatively by the COVID-19 pandemic.[7][36][37][11] For example, 40 percent of LGBTQ+ people reported working in person jobs that were highly affected by COVID-19, such as in hospitals or food services.[38] A global study on gay men found that many experienced job losses because of COVID-19 and had issues receiving COVID-19 related funds. In the study, men reported cutting meals and expected their income to decline by 30 percent. South America[edit source] This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (December 2020)

Some countries in South America are considered extremely dangerous for sexual and gender minorities because of the high amount of transphobic violence and hate crimes.[176] For example, Brazil reported 124 murders of trans people in 2019.[177] COVID-19 measures have brought new challenges to the LGBTQ+ community, such as a gender based curfew aimed at controlling COVID-19 cases, which has led to police abusing trans people. [178] Also, there are significant barriers to changing gender on IDs. In Peru, for example, individuals must go in front of a judge and may require gender affirming surgery in order to request ID changes. Policies with these requirements often exclude non-binary individuals. Police harassment towards trans people has been prevalent while enforcing gender-based curfew COVID-19 restrictions. Trans women have been harassed and detained by police for going out on a women's day as set by the curfew. [179]