<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; While most will agree that the LGBTQ+ community is a popular target for discrimination, not many understand just what this looks like.&nbsp; With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, this discrimination has become abundantly clear through the inequity in healthcare, specific to the LGBTQ+ community.</p> <p><strong>What does the COVID-19 pandemic look like for the LGBTQ+ community?</strong></p> <p><strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </strong>As a whole, this community already struggles with issues such as poverty and as extreme psychological stress.&nbsp; The risks and the discrimination of the pandemic for this marginalized community take on many forms.&nbsp; Some of the main ones include the following.</p> <ul> <li><strong>Social consequences of the pandemic are heightened:</strong> With the need for social distancing, everything from access to supportive loved ones, partners, and support groups have been compromised.&nbsp; Since many in the LGBTQ+ community find comfort and safety in the community they create, being forced to stay isolated often heightens many mental health issues, including depression and anxiety.</li> </ul> <ul> <li><strong>Higher chance of exposure:</strong> Since many are living on the streets, in shelters, or staying with supportive friends, families, or even other members of the LGBTQ+ community, their access to things like personal hygiene products and even something as simple as social distancing is harder to maintain.&nbsp; This means that they have a much higher risk of exposure than the general population.</li> </ul> <ul> <li><strong>Higher chance of complications: </strong>The LGBTQ+ community also has a higher percentage of comorbidities including mental health issues, HIV, cancer, and more.&nbsp; This increases their chance of complications or even death as a result of contracting COVID-19.</li> </ul> <ul> <li><strong>Lockdowns create long-term capacity for violence and abuse:</strong> Forced to shelter in place with unsympathetic or outright abusive family members makes the lockdown very challenging and dangerous for those in the community that do not have access to any other safe havens.&nbsp; It can both endanger their lives and also further complicate mental health conditions.<br /> <br /> Similarly, there are social groups who blame the community for causing COVID-19 or consider the pandemic to be a punishment for those who &ldquo;choose&rdquo; LGBTQ+ lifestyles.&nbsp; This can heighten fear and isolation to those who are living in this marginalized community.</li> </ul> <p><strong>What can we do about this?</strong></p> <p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; In addition to speaking openly about the discrimination, we also must take the time to learn from mistakes and misunderstandings so that they never happen again. June, 2021 is Pride month, and it is a time where those in the LGBTQ+ community stand tall and live their own truths.&nbsp; While the pandemic makes this harder due to the need for social distancing, the month of June can be used to speak out against discrimination in the LGBTQ+ community, both generally, but also specific to the COVID-19 pandemic.</p> <p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The time is now for everyone to band together and support this marginalized community.&nbsp; While the pandemic has certainly not caused the discrimination, it has brought out the inequalities stronger than ever.&nbsp; Allow Pride month to be the motivation that we all use to help bring the ugly truths to the surface so that everyone can move forward with the true support that they deserve.</p>