Community Alienation and its Impact on Help-seeking Behavior Among LGBTIQ South Asians in Southern California

Abstract

A growing population of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, Queer and Questioning (LGBTIQ) South Asians in Southern California presents a challenge for service providers to develop culturally-specific and accessible health and social services that are tailored to this population. This paper draws on findings from the Southern LGBTIQ South Asian Needs Assessment, a community-initiated research project conducted primarily through the Internet. The paper focuses on findings from 94 respondents who related their experiences in, and sense of belonging to, South Asian and LGBTIQ communities and its impact on their decisions whether or not to seek health and social services. The article concludes that even when LGBTIQ South Asian individuals have access to various health services, cultural norms that marginalize LGBTIQ identities deter many of them from using these services. The article includes some preliminary suggestions for service providers and community advocates on creating more inclusive cultural norms in the South Asian community.

KEYWORDS:

• South Asian
• lesbian
• gay
• bisexual
• transgender
• social services
• discrimination
• access and utilization
• help-seeking behavior

Notes

∗Open-ended question.

1. For a description of South Asian Network, please refer to its website: www.southasiannetwork.org. For a description of Satrang, please refer to its website: www.satrang.org.

2. For a copy of the complete report, go to: http://www.southasiannetwork.org/LGBTIQReport.pdf.

3. The average annual per capita income for the various South Asian groups in Southern California range from $12,084 for Bangladeshi in Los Angeles County to $27,762 for Asian Indians in Orange County (U.S. Census, 2000).

4. Being “out” was defined as people knowing that one is LGBTIQ.

5. Respondents were asked if they felt they had experienced discrimination, harassment, or unfair treatment in their workplace, place of residence, or public accommodation (e.g. restaurant or hotel) due to their identity characteristics.

6. In the survey, “discrimination in the health care settings” is defined as sub-standard health care services or experiencing discrimination, harassment, or unfair treatment in a health care setting due to their identity characteristics.

7. More than half of the respondents (56%) reported experiencing discrimination in the broader society based on their ethnicity, nationality, or actual or perceived immigration status, while 38% reported experiencing discrimination based on their sexual orientation.