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By Eduardo Morales, Ph.D.–
As 2022 draws to a close, many of us are making plans for the coming year. Doing so gives us things to look forward to and, in terms of financial planning, allows us to create a budget that can help ensure our goals are met. One resolution might be to travel more, it is for me, and I encourage you to think outside the box when making such plans.
For example, consider traveling to other countries when they are having celebrations that are not traditionally observed in the US. USA Scheduling these types of trips throughout the year helps prevent burnout and can keep your curiosity and inspiration high. The cultural diversity in the San Francisco Bay Area may inspire your desire to travel internationally. Just take the necessary precautions, as the COVID-19 pandemic is still with us, along with RSV and other health threats.
Unfortunately, as LGBTQ people, we must also be aware of how our rights are being protected, or not, both here in the US and in other countries.
The Thomson Reuters Foundation notes that LGBTQ+ murder rates are at alarmingly high levels in Latin America. The report estimates that four LGBTQ+ people are killed every day in Latin America and the Caribbean. In the past five years, 1,300 LGBTQ+ people have been murdered in these regions, with the highest rates in Columbia, Mexico and Honduras. Most of the victims were young gay men between the ages of 18 and 25 who were likely killed in their homes, while transgender women were more often killed on the streets.
An FBI report on hate crimes against LGBTQ+ people here in the states saw an increase from 2.2% in 2018 to 2.7% in 2019. The data reported can be found in the Hate Crimes Statistics Data Compilation of the Uniform reporting of crimes. Fatal violence was found to be more prevalent against transgender and gender non-conforming people in the United States, especially against black and brown transgender women.
Since hate crimes are not always reported, the data appears to represent a fraction of such violent incidents. A publication by the Bureau of Justice Statistics titled “Violent Victimization by Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, 2018-2020” supports the broad evidence gathered on violence against LGBTQ+ people in the U.S. Data from other countries vary and are compromised by their methods of reporting. complaint
Heavy on our minds is the recent shooting at a nightclub in Colorado Springs on November 20, 2022. Five people were killed and 25 injured at Club Q. While this club was thought to be a safe haven for members of our community, was vulnerable to attack. Similarly, Pulse in Florida was also seen as a safe place for our community members. In June 2016, 49 people were killed there and 53 were injured. Most of those who died during the massacre were Latinx LGBTQ+.
While these tragic events and reports documenting other violence are of great concern to our community, we need to balance our need for safety with our need for human connection, socialization, exploration, and more. These activities are also important for our physical and mental health.
I plan to attend a lot of events and travel next year and do it as safely as possible. I hope you will too, staying alert and informed, but also curious and hopeful that better days lie ahead for all of us.
Eduardo Morales, Ph.D. is professor emeritus, retired distinguished professor, and current adjunct professor at Alliant International University. He is also a licensed psychologist and the founder and current executive director of AGUILAS, an award-winning Latinx LGBTQ+ program. Of Puerto Rican descent, he has received numerous awards and distinguished citations, including being named a Fellow of 12 divisions of the American Psychological Association.
Our Voice
Published on December 1, 2022
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