IT TAKES MORE THAN HOLDING THE MICROPHONE TO OWN THE NARRATIVE – RECOGNISING IDAHOTB 2022

Never has it been so easy to control one’s own narrative than it is today. Social media offers the microphone, and the fact that I can share these thoughts on this platform with the world right now is a case in point. Art literally imitating life.

I see all the time, it is often the young people in my world who are somewhat better at holding this microphone. It’s because they grew up holding it, I expect. Teenagers and twenty somethings are social natives and their view of what media means is based around Twitter, Instagram, Tik Tok and probably many more social media platforms I will not even pretend to know.

The pros and cons of social media are well documented and that debate is not for this article – but if I was to highlight one pro, that I think is important, it would be its potential to bring connectivity and inclusion. Social media helps us to see, reach and hear millions of voices who, without it, we may not have access to. For the ‘microphone holders’ this kind of global access and inclusivity is normal.

Why stand out if you want to be treated the same?

Global access and inclusivity as normal is perhaps idealistic indeed, but it is something I reflected on recently. Here’s why.

Today is 17 May - International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia. IDAHOTB was created in 2004 to draw the attention to the violence and discrimination experienced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex people and all other people with diverse sexual orientations, gender identities or expressions, and sex characteristics.

IDAHOTB sits proudly in place alongside other important events of recognition in support of diversity, equality and inclusion, such as International Women’s Day, Pride, Black History Month and more. Another pro of social media is that it has the power to amplify these events and give them a powerful global voice and audience. And the microphone holders – once again our teenagers and twenty somethings – are best at turning this volume up.

 But then, amid my reflection, it came - the question. And from a microphone holder too: ‘So, if IDAHOTB is all about inclusion, then why do they need their own special day?’

A good point well made

A sequence of reactions rolled through my head. Immediately, I was dismissive: ‘Hasn’t had the life experience, doesn’t understand what it means’. Then it dawned on me that in essence this question is a good point well made. If you want to be treated the same as everyone else then why are you standing out from everyone else?

So, what’s the answer? Fast forwarding through time the world will arguably be a much better place when the microphone holders take over, because if their natural, inherent sense of inclusivity becomes the dominant force we will all be better for it. But we are not there yet.

According to the 2021 Galop Hate Crime Report, in the UK specifically, 3 in 5 LGBT+ people experienced hate, but only 1 in 5 were able to access any support. And only 4% were able to gain advocacy support, such as help with housing and criminal proceedings, despite the 1 in 4 who sought it out. And comparable figures can be seen in many (so called) developed countries around the world. (Look to developing countries and sadly, in some instances, the picture is much worse.)

In the US, according to a 2021 study, nearly 1 in 10 LGBT+ people experienced workplace discrimination in the last year, and almost half faced employment bias at some point in their careers, including being passed over for a job, harassed at work, denied a promotion or raise, excluded from company events, denied additional hours or fired.

The pandemic gave greater challenges to many communities as it exposed hidden inequalities, deepened vulnerabilities and heightened feelings of loneliness and isolation. In countries where LGBT+ people are economically and socially disadvantaged the impacts were even more harshly felt as their status in society often made it more difficult to get treatment or risked them falling outside of the benefits of government economic recovery efforts.

Collectively, there are many reported incidences of LGBT+ discrimination amid COVID 19 issues coming from countries in every corner of the world. And they continue. There are widespread challenges to human rights, including those around employment. There’s high profile debate regarding what constitutes gender identity and the notion of gender as immutable, and ambiguous approaches to gender transition which mean that in these uncertain times those singled out for their difference also receive more scrutiny than most.

Individually, the impacts of isolation caused by repeated lockdowns were acutely felt by many in the LGBT+ community. Trusted friendship circles weakened, social lives which enriched many abruptly stopped in person and transferred to Zoom calls and online catch ups, which were novel to start with but very soon became a poor substitute. Some young people were unable to have time out of unwelcoming and sometimes hostile home situations, resulting in immediate trauma and possible long term damage that we are yet to see.

Some ‘special days’ need to exist – because we are not done yet

So, what does it mean to own the narrative? Holding the microphone is only one part. The other part, which is perhaps the more important part, is understanding why you are holding it in the first place.

Those who are the loudest about social change are often those who are directly impacted. Their voice is strengthened by the allies and friends who surround them. Together, through dialogue, more people are welcomed on the journey towards demanding inclusivity. Like in many situations, 20% of people are already on board, and 20% may never change regardless. But it’s the 60% in the middle who may be moved to make the difference.

The fact that we have IDAHOTB is because the voice of the core, and their allies, is not satisfied. Once there truly is inclusion then we can question why ‘special days’ need to exist, but we are not there yet.

There’s still much too much to talk about.