On the occasion of the International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia, which is being held on May 17, Public Health France is providing an overview of the impact of this discrimination on the health of LGBT+ people.
- Twice as many major depressive episodes (CDEs) and three times as many suicide attempts in the last 12 months among lesbians, gays and bisexuals than among heterosexuals. (France Public Health Barometer 2017).
- More than half (56%) of transgender people surveyed via social networks in 2014 said they had suffered from depression following transphobic acts and 18% had attempted suicide
- The non-acceptance of homo-bisexuality by the family sphere contributes to altering the state of mental health of homosexual or bisexual cisgender women.
- One in four said they had given up seeing a doctor in the last 12 months for fear of being discriminated against because of their transsexuality.
“In the face of intolerance, it is up to us to make a difference”. On the occasion of the International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia, this May 17, Olivier Véran, Minister of Health, the Interministerial Delegation for the Fight Against Racism, Anti-Semitism and Anti-LGBT Hate (DILCRAH) and Public Health France join forces to launch a new campaign to fight discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, which has an impact on the health of LGBT+ people.
Waivers of care
Today, discriminatory experiences and violence due to sexual orientation or gender identity are still numerous. In 2019, 35% of LGBT+ people have experienced at least one form of discrimination in their lifetime. “This discrimination and violence affects the health of the people who suffer it in a global way (physical and mental)”, emphasizes Public Health France.
The health agency provides an overview of the impacts of this discrimination on the health of LGBT+ people based on a summary of the existing literature on the subject and a special issue of the BEH. Conclusion: the consequences are numerous in terms of psychological and identity disorders, consumption of psychoactive substances, degraded sexual health, difficulties in dialogue with health professionals and renunciation of care.
49% of lesbians and 40% of male homosexuals have never spoken to their doctor about their sexual orientation. This lack of communication does notdoes not take into account the specific needs of LGBT+ people in terms of screening and vaccination, for example. Professor Geneviève Chêne, Director General of Public Health France, therefore declares: “It is a major public health and equality issue, it is essential that we are all mobilized. This is the whole point of our campaign”.
The hashtag #JeFaisLaDifférence to mobilize
This campaign is act 1 of the National Action Plan for equal rights, against hatred and anti-LGBT+ discrimination, launched on October 14, 2020. From May 17 and for three weeks, it will be deployed on all the channels (TV, print and digital via the hashtag #JeFaisLaDifférence), with the desire to reach out to all French people.
The creative principle of the campaign film is based on the song “We lovers”, a hymn to the repressed love of homosexual couples. In 120 seconds, the film depicts the progress of society on the question of plural sexualities and celebrates the daily life of LGBT+ people integrated into an accepting France. At the end of the spot, a message invites viewers to consult the new Questionsexuality.fr website which gives access to reference information on sexuality and will deal with questions of discrimination.
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