Queer Eye: Exploring the Problems and Issues Experienced by LGBTQIA+ Youth amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

As the COVID-19 pandemic persists, millions of people continue to experience its devastating effects, most especially marginalized communities such as LGBTQIA+ youth who continue to suffer today. This study aimed to learn what are the current issues and problems being experienced by the LGBTQIA+ youth amidst the pandemic, and find out if there are current mechanisms in place to alleviate these. Convenience sampling was used in order to gather respondents and information was collected through the use of Google Forms. Additionally, key informant interviews were also conducted in order to supplement the data collected from the survey. The data has revealed that although there are no new problems that arose within the pandemic, the issues being experienced by LGBTQIA+ youth were found to be aggravated by the effects of the current situation. It shows that LGBTQIA+ youth has experienced isolation, difficulty with living arrangements, discrimination, and underrepresentation in media, among others. Institutions such as church, government, and universities have taken steps to address these problems, however, respondents believe that these are not enough. Systemic change must happen, and this can only be done by tackling the root causes of the problem. Relevant stakeholders should start doing their part by prioritizing the opening of schools, providing financial support for those who experience abuse at home, revamping school curriculums to include sex education, address stereotypes and discrimination, and put into law the SOGIE bill. It is believed that once these mechanisms are in place, genuine change can begin and problems may start to be uprooted. In order for a more improved study in the future, the researcher recommends obtaining a larger sample size and including a variety of individuals for the interviews. Additionally, one might also include more factors such as socioeconomic status and home environment in the analysis of the problem.