Using The HIV Care and Prevention Lens To Review The Peter Tatchell Foundation Report-June-2018
The Economic Cost of Homophobia: A review of the Peter Tatchell Foundation Report-June-2018 Using the Badgett Analysis and The HIV Care and Prevention Lens
Introduction:
As an HIV Care and Prevention Activist, I sought to understand the Peter Tatchell Foundation report titled: “The Economic Cost of Homophobia.” I had written several papers on homophobia and different phobias. I have provided counselling and guidance to many persons living with HIV. TB, Malaria and other infectious diseases. I have also worked with issues around sexuality, orientation, gender fluidity (or gender expansion), identity and general health. In my line of work, I have worked with youths contemplating suicide due to gender non-conformity or dysphoria. This prompted me to read and consult widely. So, when I came across this report I read it with a bias of a person who is both a health care and development worker. Being that I am a scholar also in the policy making field, I had come across other similar papers and happened to have studied, used and gained critical analytical skills using for example the Badgett school of thought plus many other schools of thought. It is with this background that I thought to break down the report for our blog and our followers.
Premise:
Homophobia thrives in contexts of sodomy laws, it is costly, deprives access to services those who are ridiculed, discriminated against and denies them opportunities to utilize the goods and services as part of their growth, development and self determination.
There is a triadic relationship whose trigger is social exclusion, followed by individual level outcomes which in turn lead to economic level outcomes. This is known as the Badgett model (other names include: implications of social exclusions of LGBTIQQ in economies school of thought or the Badgett Analysis tool).
Dr. M.V. Lee Badgett is a family policy issues and labor markets scholar of the Williams Institute at the University of California, Los Angeles, she further argues that the economic impact of discrimination against LGBT individuals is threefold:
- Workplace and education discrimination lead to lower wages for LGBT individuals, which results in less tax revenue reaped by the government.
- A higher poverty rate due to low income means more government spending on social programs.
- And poor health, in the form of higher rates of depression, suicide and HIV/AIDS, means higher government health care costs and decreased participation in the workforce.
Health disparities:
One can use the Badgett tool, to explain the health disparities between the LGBTIQQ community and the rest of the population. Persecution due to sodomy law regime, fears of coming out, closet-related depression, internalized hate, lead to higher rates of depression, suicidal thoughts and HIV/AIDS among LGBTIQQ individuals. Through this analysis, Badgett was able to calculate the years of life or quality of life lost, and thus the loss of economic productivity caused by these health problems.
Impact of sodomy laws:
The Badgett analysis can further be used to show the impact of sodomy laws against LGBTIQQ individuals is threefold:
- Fear of coming out due to fears of imprisonment, arbitrary arrests, climate impunity and lack of due process once put before police cells leads to lower self esteem and depression for LGBTIQQ individuals, which results in poor assimilation, integration and social interaction. This in turn leads to failure to engage in quality self-care and self development.
- failure to engage in quality self development, leads to poor or no attendance in skills development opportunities. It may mean poor life planning skills, poor negotiation skills and low income earning hence inability to access or purchase life sustaining products. So, government will be forced to invest and spending more on social programs.
- Failure to engage in quality self-care leads to poor health, higher morbidity, higher mortality, higher rates of depression, vulnerability, susceptibility to infections such as HIV/AIDS and suicide
Using The Report To Plan For LGBTIQQ-related HIV/AIDS Prevention:
In the report, one will find causalities and moral considerations, which impact social, culture and development of LGBTIQQ persons, property and freedoms when “nations have a philosophical, moral, monetary and economic incentive to reform and repeal their anti-LGBT+ legislation,” (Claire Thurlow & the Peter Tatchell Foundation. 2018, page 2, 5, 24 and 26).
The report connects “mistreatment of the LGBT+ community to the loss of tourism, a LGBT+ brain drain and diminished inward foreign aid and investment,” (page 2). In the 32 pages it provides a generic road map for one to imagine what the statement “plethora of adverse economic effects stemming from a culture of intolerance, exclusion and discrimination, from access to global markets to national reputation, public health and corruption,” mean (page 2). The statement “The evidence put forward here argues that anti-LGBT+ laws are not only social and economic drawbacks for individual LGBT+ people, but their very existence impedes the wider economic development and long-term prosperity of a nation,” puts it squarely for those looking for cause and effect as far as the quality life of LGBTIQQ goes. It affects the HIV Prevention and Care blockchain from who is accessing, where to access, the provider to ARV adherence.
The causality side has Anti-LGBT+ legislation and to make it relevant they have controlled for “(a) tourism, (b) aid and investment and (c) the economic power of LGBT+ citizens.” They continue to “argue that nations more accepting of their LGBT+ communities are reaping the resulting economic benefits, (page 5).
According to the report on page 5, “LGBT+ travel market estimated to be worth US$211 billion per annum.” This means investment and spending in the hospitality and services industry such as hotels, travel hubs, food industry, hospitals, reception and education services. Where the report talks of “countries that criminalise homosexuality are further hampering their economic prosperity due to losing out on tourism’s ripple effects, including increased employment within tourism-related industries, higher tax revenues and extensive investment in infrastructure,” it is referring to the above said service industries. In the report, the authors connect development aid to rights and LGBTIQQ are a poster key population showcasing repercussions of mistreatment. The report argues, “the growing influence of LGBT+ rights as an explicit condition of foreign aid. This increased focus on the LGBT+ community has already produced meaningful change. Notably, in 2014 several European countries withdrew aid provided directly to the Ugandan government.” The report considers the effects of criminalization, it “concentrates on the harmful effects of criminalisation as a driver of the emigration of educated and skilled LGBT+ people, and the subsequent economic losses experienced by criminalising nations. The report discusses those LGBT+ citizens driven to leave their country of origin due to criminalisation and other discriminatory legislation, alongside educated non-LGBT+ citizens also choosing destinations with a culture of tolerance, diversity and inclusivity.”
Social Integration And Mobility of LGBTIQQ Point of view:
Humans are self-preserving, self-determining and self-interested. They have freedoms which can be fulfilled through addressing needs and interests. This is why we need service platforms in form of organizations or social service entities. It is through these organizations that needs are addressed, employment is possible and continued progress of communities assured. According to the report on (page 24), “he link between rights and development was particularly strong for anti-discrimination laws. Laws that specifically prevent discrimination based on sexual orientation are strongly correlated with GDP per capita. In fact, ‘an anti-discrimination law is associated with a $1,763 increase’ in GDP per capita – a noteworthy figure for developing nations. The particular importance of anti-discrimination laws in boosting economic development, compared to other laws related to LGBT rights, is likely due to the impact the laws have on the treatment of LGBT people in the workplace.” The authors continue to argue that “LGBT individuals’ economic potential is negatively affected through limits placed on their freedoms. Barriers that impact their ability to work and workplace productivity include unjust treatment by the police, including arrests, beatings and extortion.” Where discrimination prevails, there is no doubt, two factors that arise. One is a lack of services addressing needs of those discriminated. Or, the services will end up being exclusive. This valorization atmosphere is restrictive and abusive. It is what leads to mistreatment, abuses, tortures, impunity, expulsions, poor school retention, poor self care, lack of skills and emigration of many LGBTIQQ.
In their conclusion (page 26), the authors reiterate “LGBT+ rights go hand-in-hand with economic development and governments that insist on maintaining the criminalisation of homosexuality will continue to put their countries at an economic disadvantage. This report shows how the mistreatment of the LGBT+ community is connected to lost tourism, inward aid and investment, and to the productivity of local citizens.” They could not have said it any better, such governments not only put themselves at economic disadvantage but social, biomedical and cultural disadvantage as well.
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