Living on the Edge: COVID-19 Adds to Distress and Discrimination of Nepalese Transgender Communities.

Kalpana Pun,

Since the countrywide lock-down came into effect, many LGBTQ and sexual minorities of Nepal are being forced to move back into unsafe domestic spaces, a situation of “dire”. While the crisis has raised significant concerns for everyone, it has brought additional barriers for LGBTQ people, especially those coming from abandonment backgrounds who face disproportionate levels of homelessness. Unlike others, LGBTQ people have also had their house owners refuse to deduct rent, and in some cases even hike the charge. Despite this, they cannot even work for fear of being infected with the corona-virus. Thus, insecure employment brings further levels of marginalization.

According to the Blue Diamond Society (BDS), half of Nepal’s LGBTQ community have lost their jobs during the lock-down, which has added to the mental health problems as well as a social stigma. This pandemic has created an unprecedented situation, which has made many LGBTQ people into isolation, and hostile situation without any support structures. Several of them are also sex workers and have described this as a life and death situation because of a lack of pay and government support. As the lock-down has become a punishment for people like them who earn by night for the next day’s meal.

Beyond the obvious issues around income, housing, and food, LGBTQ people are significantly more susceptible to mental health issues due to social discrimination and inequalities. While the digital spaces can often be lifelines, LGBTQ people of color continue to feel unable to access these resources due to fear of stigma and backlash. Traditionally, deeply rooted human prejudice makes them feels like, their whole life goes under observation through somebody else’s eyes — simply because they are not who we want them to be and treat them as “otherness”.

Simultaneously, Social media apps like Twitter and communication apps like WhatsApp are seeing a surge in use during COVID-19. However, this extra time online does not correlate with a heightened feeling of contentedness — people are feeling more alone than before the corona-virus pandemic. That feeling is compounded for some LGBTQ people in countries where homosexuality is still criminalized. Most of them require monetary support, basic food items, and shelters. Then some people just requested that they don’t need anything, they just need someone to talk to. How harsh it to relate oneself in a situation where one can be isolated within a homophobic, trans-phobic, bi-phobic household for example, then that additional stress on our mental and physical health just further compounds the problem. Even, they are being abused and thrown out onto the street are now “lashing out” with hateful behaviors and abusive comments and forced to spend more time with their prejudiced family members. As they’re trapped in the house, cooped up, and don’t have anyone to let their frustrations out on except their parents, as well as a recent survivor of abuse, warn of an array of new dangers this community is facing under lock-down.

Dramatically, they are turning to sex work or what’s known as “survival sex” simply to escape the house temporarily. Typically, this involves finding men on hookup apps willing to let them stay for the night, in exchange for sex — despite the social distancing orders in place. As a result, LGBT people are now at escalated risk of violence, hate crimes, grooming, and in particular, more vulnerable. Some try other means to escape hatred within the home: by going back in the closet, playing down their gender identity or sexuality, or, more literally, locking themselves in their bedrooms 24/7. Therefore, there is also a lot of emotional abuse — being told they are worth nothing. That is just the start.

So, This is not the first time a virus has threatened the LBGTQ community. Most people will remember the AIDS crisis, which killed tens of thousands of people. While most government and health officials were too slow to respond, or deliberately obfuscated facts, it was the resilience of the LGBTQ community that got us through it: by coming together and taking to the streets to demand healthcare. One thing the LGBTQ+ communities have always done is to evolve and adapt to changing situations. In addition, their interdependent empathy binds them together.

Despite this, the central government and local authorities must concern about shelters for the homeless during the lock-down. In the context of Nepal, there are not even emergency helplines for counseling and emotional support and safe; refuge places/or quarantine for LGBT groups. That is why it is necessary to forms part of a nationwide effort from a vast range of LGBTQ businesses, charities, individuals, and voluntary organizations to protect lives, mental health, and human connection during the worst pandemic since the AIDS crisis. However, in our country, even asking for help is stigmatized, particularly for people from marginalized groups. We are afraid that not many are reaching out for help due to a fear of being doubly stigmatized. Nevertheless, one should not forget asking help is not a weakness.

Therefore, the community mutual aid program should be launched to address particular challenges faced by LGBT+ people during the corona-virus crisis, by advocating against domestic violence and access to equal social protection and healthcare services. Social workers or other forms of volunteers should aim to bypass the obstacles by friendly phone calls, picking up medication, posting letters, and one request for care. Besides this, online yoga classes to writing workshops, queer workout sessions, meditation classes, live musical performances, and free counselling and mental health support groups can play a further role with the notion of no LGBT person should feel that they are alone.