What defines people’s well-being: health, money, love, acceptance? Under the same conditions, homophobia impacts the quality of life of LGTBIQ+ people with fewer resources three times more (36.5%) than that of those with fewer resources (13.3%). Data replicated in all countries, both in those which distribute wealth the most and in those which are the most unequal; among the most egalitarian and among the most reactionary. This is one of the studio’s conclusions Homophobia, economic precarity and the well-being of diverse people with a survey in 153 countries published this month in Human behavior. “Wealth mitigates the impact of homophobia,” the book says.
To study the relationship between homophobia, economic insecurity and the subjective well-being of LGTBIQ+ people, researchers relied on the responses of 82,324 people from a collective of 153 countries around the world (as part of the so-called LGTBIQ+ Global Happiness survey). “The result provides a global vision, even in hitherto little-studied regions,” say the researchers.
For their work, they asked tens of thousands of people how they felt: whether they are thriving (prosperousassociated with a strong bienestar); if luchan (in difficulty, a medium level); or if you suffer (Sufferinglowest scale). The majority of LGTBIQ+ people on the planet say they struggle (32%) or suffer (25%), while 43% believe they are thriving. Additionally, women and non-binary people reported being significantly inferior to men.
When we go into detail, large regional differences are observed. In the Middle East and North Africa, only one in four (26%) respondents said it was thriving; 44% lived in poverty. This follows Central Asia and Eastern Europe, where LGBT countries such as Russia, Hungary or Slovakia are widespread: seven of those surveyed have a low (35%) or medium (36%) level of well-being.
At the extreme end are Latin America and the Caribbean, with a minority of the LGTBIQ+ population defining their situation as one of prosperity (52%); in addition to what was recorded in Central and Western Europe and North America (46% at the highest level). Furthermore, the survey reveals that in the West the happiness of LGTBIQ+ people is lower (6.1 out of 10) than that of normative people (6.6). The work is led by Erik Lamontagne, Vincent Leroy, Sean Howell, Sylvie Boyer and Bruno Ventelou, researchers from UNAIDS, the French CNRS, the University of Aix-Marsella and the San Francisco LGBT+ Foundation (EE UU).
On the other hand, in Asia-Pacific and sub-Saharan Africa, regions where progress is less significant in terms of LGTBIQ+ rights, the members of the collective say they feel better than the general media in their country. “This does not mean that life is objectively better for LGTBIQ+ people in these parts of the world,” the researchers warn, “but it could be related to expectations.”
One of the worst assumptions that, in very hostile environments, makes diversity more valuable is that of small advances, constructed safe spaces or support networks. They also talk about what is called the “community effect”: by being rejected by society, greater union and a greater sense of belonging are fostered. “Feeling of being part of a group that understands and supports you and can generate very powerful subjective well-being, which counterbalances general hostility,” the publication specifies.
Researchers use the term homophobia as “a general concept that encompasses all forms of stigma and discrimination based on sexual and gender diversity,” they explain. “Homophobia is associated with the denial, devaluation and stigmatization of any behavior, identity, relationship or community among heterosexuals,” he explains. Furthermore, this is linked to the imposition of heteronormation; It is to decide, with “the structures and beliefs which establish heterosexual relations as the norm”.
This is why, to analyze it, a “socio-ecological approach” has been planned, which considers the role of different environmental systems in daily life (from public space to the workplace, including health centers, the community, the family, the personal situation or legislative advances).
For this investigation, three levels of analysis were applied: family, community and state. Worldwide, most LGTBIQ+ people (47%) do not feel accepted by their families. In the Middle East and North Africa, they are present in three out of four cases (74%). Additionally, the study found that family acceptance – or rejection – is an “absolutely determining” factor in personal well-being. Han measured this impact with a coefficient (called beta), where 0 implies no relationship between the factors; 1 positive total dependence between them; y -1 minus one. Family acceptance in relation to personal well-being has a beta coefficient of -0.84: a very strong relationship with a very negative impact.
At the next level, society (the neighborhood, the street, etc.), homophobic behavior was analyzed. For him, hostility and aggressiveness were assessed. Worldwide, almost six in ten LGTBIQ+ people surveyed (59%) have been insulted and around 21% have suffered physical attacks.
The State is responsible for the family and society. To analyze their condition, researchers used the “homophobic climate index”, which studies the environment that lives in each country, valuing the legislation that protects the collective, but also attitudes and general discourse. In this case, its negative impact doubles that of family rejection, because it is structural and permanent. The researchers feel like they are going through a traumatic experience. That is to say, homophobia on the ground has a measurable harmful impact, but it is particularly serious when it occurs at the most intimate level, in the family, or at the most general: state homophobia.
In all this context, the investigation added a new layer: the economic situation, to see if money can alleviate homophobia. The findings highlight that in all regions and countries, the negative impact of homophobia is significantly reduced in the face of economic security. The survey confirms the importance of intersectionality: how the interrelation of different realities (sex, gender, ethnicity, social class, orientation, identity, etc.) can reinforce discrimination. In this case, let us note that homophobia is aggravated by economic insecurity.
The study illustrates the emotional impact of physical aggression. For a poor person, a homophobic attack leaves 0.32 points of perceived happiness. For those with more resources, this means 0.12 points less. He believes that greater economic security provides tools to mitigate the damage. For example, if this attack took place in your neighborhood, the money gives you the opportunity to move to another area. It also allows you to see a therapist to deal with the experience.
The work reveals that personal economic resources are those which most mitigate the consequences of homophobia at all levels (family, social or structural). The researchers emphasize that if homophobia cannot be combatted on a general level, national economic development or social policies will not significantly improve the lives of LGTBIQ+ people.
No more HIV tests, maybe everything is okay
The survey also sought to reflect on the impact of HIV on people’s well-being. Even those living with the HIV virus report a slight reduction in their quality of life; The lowest level of self-assessment was reported by those who did not know their HIV status (a beta index of -0.2). That is to say, the anxiety that causes doubt is more damaging than receiving a positive diagnosis. This is why researchers recommended promoting testing and combating the stigma associated with the virus. On the other hand, the work confirms the U-shaped evolution of the bienestar in relation to age: happiness reflects its maximums in youth and in old age, reaching the bottom in middle age. Some data that reproduces the heteronormative population.
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