Editor’s Note: This blog is part of our “Equity in Disasters” series. The series, which focuses primarily on racial equity and justice issues, also explores how these intersect with other kinds of marginalization and the ways that historical and systemic discrimination create an uneven playing field for recovery.
Disasters lay bare the inequities that exist in societies around the world. Never has this been more apparent than now, as we are seeing the impacts of COVID-19 affecting different communities in different ways.
Similar to the experiences of communities of color and other historically marginalized populations, COVID-19 provides a clear example of how disasters exacerbate prejudice and inequities as LGBTQ+ communities have suffered more significant health impacts, disproportionate socioeconomic impacts and increased stigmatization compared to heterosexual, white, cisgender people.
For all communities to recover equitably, philanthropy needs to understand the impact of these inequities, address root causes and explore how to best support LGBTQ+-led and LGBTQ+-serving organizations before, during and after disasters.
Disasters amplify inequities
History has shown us, and experience has taught us, that in times of crisis, those most marginalized tend to suffer disproportionately compared to the broader population. Even in the absence of the current global pandemic, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer (LGBTQ+) people are among the most marginalized groups in societies across the world. They experience higher levels of violence, exclusion and deprivation, especially where stigma, discrimination and criminalization of same-sex relations or transgender identities prevail. In times of crisis, these vulnerabilities are amplified.
In countries where LGBTQ+ people face social stigma, moral degradation, exclusion, legal discrimination and criminalization, they have less access to appropriate health care and economic opportunities. They are more likely to be poor, particularly in contexts where some LGBTQ+ people were left out of government’s economic recovery measures.
Disproportionate impacts of COVID-19 on LGBTQ+ people in the U.S.
Limited early data available suggests that LGBTQ+ people have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S. The reasons are far-reaching and may include:
- Higher rates of comorbidities that put LGBTQ+ individuals at greater risk of worse COVID-19 outcomes.
- Working in highly affected industries such as health care and restaurants/food services.
- Living on lower-than-average incomes than non-LGBTQ+ people.
- Experiencing stigma and discrimination related to sexual orientation/gender identity, including in accessing health care.
- For transgender individuals, being less likely to have health coverage.
At the onset of the pandemic, the HRC Foundation issued a brief that noted LGBTQ+ people and families are more likely than the general population to live in poverty and lack access to adequate medical care, paid medical leave and basic necessities. As a result, LGBTQ+ people are at greater risk of adverse economic consequences associated with the coronavirus.
- Economic security: A larger share of LGBTQ+ adults compared to non-LGBTQ+ adults in the U.S. reported that they or someone in their household experienced COVID-era job loss (56% vs. 44%). LGBTQ+ people are still 30% more likely than the general population to have lost their jobs following the initial reopening of the economy. LGBTQ+ people were also 50% more likely – and LGBTQ+ people of color 150% more likely – than the general population to have suffered a pay cut since the U.S. began initiating reopening policies, highlighting the importance of considering intersectionality when planning for equitable recovery.
- Mental health: Three-fourths of LGBTQ+ people (74%) said worry and stress from the pandemic have negatively affected their mental health, compared to 49% of those who are not LGBTQ+. They also are more likely to say that the negative impact has been significant (49% vs. 23%).
Disproportionate impacts of disasters and crises on LGBTQ+ people globally
Several new reports, including “Vulnerability Amplified” by OutRight Action International, which recently received a grant from Center for Disaster Philanthropy’s COVID-19 Response Fund, reveal some of the negative trends we are seeing worldwide:
- LGBTQ+ people are reluctant to seek health care, even when the situation is dire. Access to medical assistance can be a huge barrier to LGBTQ+ people who fear discrimination within the health care system. The fear is especially true for people whose gender marked on identity documents doesn’t match their gender identity or if their HIV status is disclosed. Even in the absence of a pandemic, LGBTQ+ people worldwide face discrimination, stigma, refusal of services and confidentiality breaches within health services.
- Many LGBTQ+ people are struggling to meet their basic needs, including food needs.
Broader societal discrimination also bars many LGBTQ+ people from pursuing education and job opportunities. As a result, many work day-to-day in the informal economy, which was effectively shut down when shelter-in-place measures were implemented in many countries due to the pandemic. They are unable to make any money and are often without savings.
- LGBTQ+ people who face discrimination from family members due to actual or perceived gender identity or sexual orientation are at higher risk of domestic violence and abuse.
Lockdowns and quarantines have forced cohabitation with unsupportive family or abusive partners.
- LGBTQ+ couples have reported being denied food and other aid.
Gay and lesbian couples don’t count as a “family” in the eyes of many local governments.
We are also seeing the compounding effects of the global COVID-19 pandemic on LGBTQ+ populations caught up in the global refugee crisis. In a recent report, Rainbow Railroad raised concerns about the unique vulnerabilities of displaced LGBTQ+ persons and refugees during COVID-19. Below are three specific examples cited in their report:
- COVID-19 could take a foothold in refugee populations where LGBTQ+ persons are already uniquely vulnerable.
- COVID-19 could lead to more crackdowns on LGTBQ+ persons, causing further displacement.
- Border closures as a result of COVID-19 could lead to the breakdown of refugee resettlement and a refusal to accept asylum claims.
Many LGBTQ+ organizations across the world have responded by shifting from human rights-focused programs to providing local humanitarian relief. Despite this, LGBTQ+ communities have been largely excluded from COVID-19 humanitarian resources.
It is not just the pandemic where we see disproportionate effects on LGBTQ+ people affected by disaster and crises. Oxfam research revealed that following the Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004, transgender women were denied access to temporary shelters because their appearance didn’t match the gender listed on their ID documents. An OutRight report on the 2010 Haiti earthquake recovery effort showed that even well-intentioned, gender-specific food distribution queues excluded some LGBTQ+ people from accessing aid. In a recent survey by Organization for Refuge, Asylum and Migration (ORAM) of LGBTQ+ refugees in Kenya, 83% reported being physically assaulted, 88% were denied police assistance, 76% were denied shelter and 83% denied access to basic services.
International agencies involved in emergency response have begun to narrow this protection gap. In 2015, 12 United Nations agencies, including the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and the World Food Program, both major humanitarian players, issued a joint LGBTQ+ rights statement. It reiterated that LGBTQ+ people “often face violence and discrimination when seeking refuge from persecution and in humanitarian emergencies.”
In reality, while some advancement has been made, much work remains to be done in terms of policy and practice within the humanitarian and disaster response sectors.
What is CDP doing about this?
June is Pride Month in the U.S., as well as World Refugee Awareness Month, and is an opportunity to shine a spotlight on the disproportionate impacts of disasters and crises on LGBTQ+ people globally. At CDP, we used June as an opportunity to identify and fund two new partner organizations working to address the needs of LGBTQ populations worldwide, including those suffering impacts from COVID-19 and those affected by the global refugee crisis.
- We made a $500,000 contribution to OutRight International’s COVID Emergency Fund, which makes small grants ($5,000 – $20,000) to local grassroots organizations to improve the lives and conditions of vulnerable LGBTQ+ people who have been disproportionately affected by the Covid-19 pandemic and containment measures, and who have too often been excluded from relief efforts due to binary gendered approaches, non-inclusive definitions of “family” or homophobic or transphobic attitudes by government and relief workers. With CDP’s support, we estimate that 33 grants at an average value of $13,000 will be made to local organizations (nearly all LGBTQ+-led) in Africa, Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Latin America. In addition to meeting immediate and medium-term recovery needs, the grant will help build the resilience of the LGBTQ+ rights movement globally, which will allow these organizations to continue to respond to the needs of LGBTQ+ people before, during and after future disasters.
- We also made a $65,000 grant from our Global Recovery Fund to ORAM, towards a two-country program targeting vulnerable LGBTIQ refugees in the regional migration hubs of Kenya and Mexico. CDP’s grant will support skills and capacity building training and enterprise seed-funding to those unable to access education and training due to their sexual orientation and/or gender expression and identity, as well as their status as a foreigner and refugee. The program will enable these vulnerable individuals to have a fair chance at finding or creating meaningful employment and safely meeting their basic needs. A secondary goal of the project is to build the capacity of the local and community-based organizations to continue to serve new influxes of LGBTQ+ refugees, thereby bolstering resilience among the communities themselves as well as the organizations that are serving them.
For more information about the issues facing LGBTQ+ people affected by crises around the world, some of the programs being implemented to address these needs and the great work our partners are doing, please visit OutRight Action International’s and ORAM’s websites. You can also read CDP’s in-depth Issue Insight on LGBTQ+ communities.
Kumbuka Mhariri: Blogi hii ni sehemu ya mfululizo wetu wa "Uadilifu katika Misiba". Mfululizo huu, ambao unazingatia hasa masuala ya usawa wa kikabila na haki, pia unachunguza jinsi haya yanavyopingana na aina zingine za kutengwa na njia ambazo ubaguzi wa kihistoria na wa mfumo huunda uwanja usio sawa wa kucheza kwa ajili ya kupona. Misiba hufunua ukosefu wa usawa uliopo katika jamii ulimwenguni pote. Hii haijawahi kuwa dhahiri zaidi kuliko sasa, kwani tunaona athari za COVID-19 zikiathiri jamii tofauti kwa njia tofauti. "Kama ilivyo kwa jamii za rangi na idadi nyingine ya watu waliopunguzwa kihistoria, COVID-19 hutoa mfano wazi wa jinsi majanga yanavyozidisha ubaguzi na ukosefu wa usawa, kwani jamii za LGBTQ+ zimepata athari kubwa za afya, athari za kijamii na kiuchumi, na kuongezeka kwa unyanyasaji wa rangi ikilinganishwa na watu wa jinsia tofauti, wazungu, na watu wa jinsia tofauti. """ Ili jamii zote ziweze kupona kwa usawa, misaada inahitaji kuelewa athari za ukosefu huu wa usawa, kushughulikia sababu za msingi na kuchunguza jinsi ya kusaidia zaidi mashirika yanayoongozwa na LGBTQ+ na kuwahudumia kabla, wakati na baada ya majanga. """Mateso yanazidisha ukosefu wa usawa, historia imetukazia na uzoefu umetufundisha kwamba wakati wa mgogoro, wale walio katika hali ya kutengwa zaidi huwa wanateseka kwa kiasi kikubwa ikilinganishwa na idadi kubwa ya watu." Hata bila janga la sasa la ulimwengu, wasagaji, mashoga, watu wa jinsia mbili, transgender, intersex na queer (LGBTQ+) ni miongoni mwa vikundi vilivyoondolewa zaidi katika jamii ulimwenguni. Wanajikuta katika viwango vya juu vya vurugu, kutengwa na ukosefu, haswa ambapo stigma, ubaguzi na uhalifu wa mahusiano ya jinsia moja au utambulisho wa transgender unatawala. Katika nyakati za msiba, udhaifu huo huongezeka. Katika nchi ambazo watu wa LGBTQ+ wanakabiliwa na unyanyasaji wa kijamii, uharibifu wa maadili, kutengwa, ubaguzi wa kisheria na uhalifu, wana upatikanaji mdogo wa huduma sahihi ya afya na fursa za kiuchumi. "Wanaweza kuwa maskini, hasa katika mazingira ambapo baadhi ya watu wa LGBTQ+ waliachwa nje ya hatua za serikali za kufufua uchumi.""" Matokeo ya COVID-19 kwa watu wa LGBTQ + katika Marekani: Takwimu za mapema zinazopatikana zinaonyesha kwamba watu wa LGBTQ + wameathiriwa sana na janga la COVID-19 nchini Marekani. Sababu za hii ni mbali na zinaweza kujumuisha: Viwango vya juu vya ugonjwa wa pamoja ambao huweka watu wa LGBTQ + katika hatari kubwa ya matokeo mabaya ya COVID-19. - Kufanya kazi katika viwanda vinavyoathiriwa sana kama vile huduma za afya na mikahawa / huduma za chakula. - Kuishi kwa mapato ya chini ya wastani kuliko watu wasio LGBTQ +. - Kutumia stigma na ubaguzi kuhusiana na mwelekeo wa kingono / utambulisho wa kijinsia, ikiwa ni pamoja na kupata huduma za afya. - Kwa watu wa jinsia tofauti, kuwa na uwezekano mdogo wa kuwa na chanjo ya afya. "Kama ilivyoelezwa katika taarifa ya HRC, ""Watu na familia za LGBTQ+ wana uwezekano mkubwa zaidi kuliko idadi ya watu wote kuishi katika umaskini na kukosa upatikanaji wa huduma ya matibabu ya kutosha, likizo ya matibabu ya kulipwa na mahitaji ya msingi.""" Kwa hivyo, watu wa LGBTQ+ wana hatari kubwa ya athari mbaya za kiuchumi zinazohusiana na coronavirus. Kwa mfano, idadi kubwa ya watu wazima wa LGBTQ+ walioripoti kuwa wamepoteza kazi wakati wa COVID-19 (wakati wa mwaka wa 2020) ikilinganishwa na idadi ya watu wazima wasio LGBTQ+ walioripoti kuwa wamepoteza kazi wakati wa COVID-19 (wakati wa mwaka wa 2020). Watu wa LGBTQ+ bado wana uwezekano wa 30% zaidi kuliko idadi ya watu wote kupoteza kazi zao baada ya kufunguliwa kwa uchumi. Watu wa LGBTQ+ pia walikuwa na uwezekano wa 50% zaidi na watu wa rangi ya LGBTQ+ walikuwa na uwezekano wa 150% zaidi kuliko idadi ya watu kwa ujumla kuwa wamepatwa na kupunguzwa kwa mshahara tangu Marekani ilipoanza kuanzisha sera za kufungua tena, ikionyesha umuhimu wa kuzingatia intersectionality wakati wa kupanga kwa ajili ya kupona kwa usawa. "Tatizo la afya ya akili: ""Tatizo na mkazo wa janga hilo umeathiri afya ya akili ya watu wa jamii ya LGBTQ+ kwa asilimia 74 ikilinganishwa na asilimia 49 ya wale ambao si wa jamii ya LGBTQ+." Pia, ni rahisi zaidi kusema kuwa athari mbaya imekuwa kubwa (49% dhidi ya 23%). "Hatua hii ya ""kuondoa hatari"" ya COVID-19 imefunikwa na ripoti ya OutRight Action International, ambayo hivi karibuni ilipokea ruzuku kutoka kwa Mfuko wa Majibu ya COVID-19 wa Kituo cha Ufadhili wa Msiba, na inaonyesha mwenendo mbaya ambao tunaona ulimwenguni kote: ""Watu wa LGBTQ+ wanakataa kutafuta huduma za afya, hata wakati hali ni mbaya." Upatikanaji wa huduma za matibabu unaweza kuwa kizuizi kikubwa kwa watu wa LGBTQ+ ambao wanaogopa ubaguzi ndani ya mfumo wa huduma za afya. Hofu ni kweli hasa kwa watu ambao jinsia iliyoandikwa kwenye nyaraka za kitambulisho hailingani na utambulisho wao wa jinsia au ikiwa hali yao ya UKIMWI imefunuliwa. Hata bila janga, watu wa LGBTQ+ duniani kote wanakabiliwa na ubaguzi, uchongezi, kukataliwa kwa huduma na uvunjaji wa usiri ndani ya huduma za afya. Watu wengi wa LGBTQ+ wanajitahidi kukidhi mahitaji yao ya msingi, ikiwa ni pamoja na mahitaji ya chakula. Ubaguzi mkubwa wa kijamii pia unawazuia watu wengi wa LGBTQ+ kufuata fursa za elimu na kazi. "Kutokana na hali hiyo, wengi wanafanya kazi kila siku katika uchumi usio rasmi, ambao kwa kweli ulifungwa wakati hatua za ""mahali pa makazi"" zilianzishwa katika nchi nyingi kwa sababu ya janga hilo." Hawawezi kupata pesa zozote na mara nyingi hawana akiba. Watu wa LGBTQ+ ambao wanakabiliwa na ubaguzi kutoka kwa wanachama wa familia kwa sababu ya utambulisho wa kweli au unaoonekana wa kijinsia au mwelekeo wa kijinsia wako katika hatari kubwa ya vurugu za nyumbani na unyanyasaji. Vizuizi na karantini zimelazimisha kuishi pamoja na familia zisizounga mkono au washirika wenye unyanyasaji. - Wanandoa wa LGBTQ+ wameripoti kukataliwa chakula na misaada mingine. Wanandoa wa mashoga na wasagaji hawahesabiwi kama "familia" machoni pa serikali nyingi za mitaa. "Tunaona pia athari za janga la COVID-19 duniani kote kwa idadi ya watu wa LGBTQ+ waliokamatwa na mgogoro wa wakimbizi wa kimataifa. """ Katika ripoti yake ya hivi karibuni, Rainbow Railroad ilitoa wasiwasi juu ya udhaifu wa kipekee wa watu wa LGBTQ + waliohamishwa na wakimbizi wakati wa COVID-19. "Hii ni mfano wa tatu maalum uliotolewa katika ripoti yao: ""COVID-19 inaweza kuchukua mguu katika idadi ya wakimbizi ambapo watu wa LGBTQ+ tayari ni hatari sana." COVID-19 inaweza kusababisha ukandamizaji zaidi dhidi ya watu wa LGBTQ +, na kusababisha uhamisho zaidi. Kufungwa kwa mipaka kwa sababu ya COVID-19 kunaweza kusababisha kuanguka kwa makazi ya wakimbizi na kukataa kukubali maombi ya hifadhi. Mashirika mengi ya LGBTQ+ ulimwenguni kote yameitikia kwa kuhamia kutoka kwa programu za haki za binadamu kwa kutoa misaada ya kibinadamu ya ndani. Hata hivyo, jamii za LGBTQ+ zimepuuzwa kwa kiasi kikubwa kutoka kwa rasilimali za kibinadamu za COVID-19. "Hii sio janga tu ambapo tunaona athari zisizo na usawa kwa watu wa LGBTQ + walioathiriwa na maafa na mgogoro. """ Utafiti wa Oxfam ulifunua kuwa baada ya tsunami ya Bahari ya Hindi mnamo 2004, wanawake wa jinsia tofauti walikataliwa ufikiaji wa makazi ya muda kwa sababu muonekano wao haukulingana na jinsia iliyoorodheshwa kwenye nyaraka zao za kitambulisho. Ripoti ya OutRight juu ya juhudi za uokoaji wa tetemeko la ardhi la Haiti la 2010 ilionyesha kuwa hata foleni za usambazaji wa chakula za jinsia zilizokusudiwa vizuri zilikuwa zimewatenga watu fulani wa LGBTQ+ kutoka kwa upatikanaji wa misaada. Katika utafiti uliofanywa na Shirika la Uhamiaji, Uhamiaji na Uhamiaji (OARM) kwa wakimbizi wa LGBTQ+ nchini Kenya, asilimia 83 waliripoti kushambuliwa kimwili, asilimia 88 walikataliwa msaada wa polisi, asilimia 76 walikataliwa makazi na asilimia 83 walikataliwa huduma za msingi. Mashirika ya kimataifa yanayohusika katika kukabiliana na hali ya dharura yameanza kupunguza pengo hili la ulinzi. Katika mwaka 2015, mashirika 12 ya Umoja wa Mataifa, ikiwa ni pamoja na Shirika la Umoja wa Mataifa la Wakimbizi na Programu ya Chakula Duniani (UNHCR), na mashirika mengine ya kimataifa, yalitangaza taarifa ya pamoja ya haki za watu wa jamii ya LGBTQ+ katika Umoja wa Mataifa. "LGBTQ+ watu ""mara nyingi wanakabiliwa na vurugu na ubaguzi wakati wa kutafuta kimbilio kutoka kwa mateso na katika hali za dharura za kibinadamu."" ""Kwa kweli, wakati maendeleo fulani yamefanywa, kazi nyingi bado inapaswa kufanywa katika suala la sera na mazoezi ndani ya sekta ya kibinadamu na majibu ya maafa." CDP inafanya nini kuhusu hili? Juni ni Mwezi wa Kiburi nchini Marekani, na pia Mwezi wa Ujuzi wa Wakimbizi Ulimwenguni, na ni fursa ya kuangazia athari zisizo za kawaida za majanga na mgogoro kwa watu wa LGBTQ+ ulimwenguni. Katika CDP, tulitumia Juni kama fursa ya kutambua na kufadhili mashirika mawili mapya ya washirika wanaofanya kazi ili kukabiliana na mahitaji ya idadi ya watu wa LGBTQ ulimwenguni kote, pamoja na wale wanaosumbuliwa na athari za COVID-19 na wale walioathiriwa na mgogoro wa wakimbizi wa kimataifa. "Kama sehemu ya mpango wa ""OutRight International's COVID Emergency Fund,"" OutRight International inatoa misaada ndogo kwa mashirika ya msingi ya ndani ili kuboresha maisha na hali za watu wa LGBTQ+ walioathiriwa na janga la COVID-19 na hatua za kuzuia, na ambao mara nyingi wameondolewa katika juhudi za misaada kwa sababu ya mbinu za jinsia mbili, ufafanuzi usiojumuisha wa ""familia"" au mitazamo ya homophobic au transphobic na serikali na wafanyakazi wa misaada." Kwa msaada wa CDP, tunakadiria kwamba misaada 33 kwa thamani ya wastani ya $ 13,000 itafanywa kwa mashirika ya ndani (karibu yote yakiongozwa na LGBTQ +) katika Afrika, Asia-Pacific, Mashariki ya Kati na Amerika ya Kusini. "Kwa kuongezea kukidhi mahitaji ya haraka na ya kati ya muda, ruzuku itasaidia kujenga nguvu ya harakati za haki za LGBTQ+ ulimwenguni kote, ambayo itaruhusu mashirika haya kuendelea kukabiliana na mahitaji ya watu wa LGBTQ+ kabla, wakati na baada ya majanga ya baadaye. """ "Tumepewa msaada wa dola 65,000 kutoka kwa Mfuko wetu wa Uokoaji wa Ulimwenguni kwa ORAM, kuelekea mpango wa nchi mbili unaolenga wakimbizi wa LGBTIQ walio hatarini katika vituo vya uhamiaji vya kikanda vya Kenya na Mexico. """ Msaada wa CDP utasaidia mafunzo ya ustadi na ujenzi wa uwezo na ufadhili wa mwanzo wa biashara kwa wale ambao hawawezi kupata elimu na mafunzo kwa sababu ya mwelekeo wao wa kijinsia na au kujieleza na utambulisho wa jinsia, na pia hadhi yao kama mgeni na mkimbizi. Programu hiyo itawawezesha watu hawa walio hatarini kupata nafasi ya kupata au kuunda ajira yenye maana na kukidhi mahitaji yao ya msingi kwa usalama. Lengo la pili la mradi huo ni kujenga uwezo wa mashirika ya ndani na ya jamii kuendelea kuhudumia wafungwa wapya wa LGBTQ+ na hivyo kuimarisha nguvu kati ya jamii wenyewe na mashirika yanayowahudumia. Kwa habari zaidi juu ya masuala yanayowakabili watu wa LGBTQ+ walioathiriwa na mgogoro duniani kote, baadhi ya mipango inayotekelezwa ili kukabiliana na mahitaji haya na kazi kubwa washirika wetu wanafanya, tafadhali tembelea tovuti za OutRight Action International na ORAM. Unaweza pia kusoma makala ya CDP ya kina ya Issue Insight juu ya jamii za LGBTQ +.