In a survey of LGBT in 30 Chinese provinces twenty-seven percent reported that they experienced ‘contempt and indifference’ from health workers.
A survey of 1,205 participants across 30 provinces in China conducted by the nongovernmental organization Love Without Borders Foundation found that 46 percent of LGBT respondents had experienced discrimination from health care workers after their sexual orientation or gender identity was disclosed.
Of the people questioned, 61 percent said that they were afraid of being treated differently due to their sexual orientation or gender identity.
Twenty-seven percent reported that they experienced “contempt and indifference” from health workers, while 18 percent stated that hospital staff had considered their gender identity or sexual orientation to be “a disease,” either through implication or explicit diagnosis.
“This is the first comprehensive study of the status of LGBT health in mainland China,” Liu Wenyuan, project officer at Beijing Love Without Borders, said.
One gay man from Yunnan province was quoted in the report as saying that the medical workers in a local health centre he visited were homophobic.
“They asked, ‘Why are you here for testing? Did you engage in sexual behavior? Did you go whoring? And if so, we’ll call the police to arrest you,’” he said.
A survey of 1,205 participants across 30 provinces in China conducted by the nongovernmental organization Love Without Borders Foundation found that 46 percent of LGBT respondents had experienced discrimination from health care workers after their sexual orientation or gender identity was disclosed.
Of the people questioned, 61 percent said that they were afraid of being treated differently due to their sexual orientation or gender identity.
Twenty-seven percent reported that they experienced “contempt and indifference” from health workers, while 18 percent stated that hospital staff had considered their gender identity or sexual orientation to be “a disease,” either through implication or explicit diagnosis.
“This is the first comprehensive study of the status of LGBT health in mainland China,” Liu Wenyuan, project officer at Beijing Love Without Borders, said.
One gay man from Yunnan province was quoted in the report as saying that the medical workers in a local health centre he visited were homophobic.
“They asked, ‘Why are you here for testing? Did you engage in sexual behavior? Did you go whoring? And if so, we’ll call the police to arrest you,’” he said.
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Reader's Comments
I'd have thought the 18% figure would have been higher. Social change is happening very fast in China.
Many western countries are going backwards.
Unfortunately, I have seen this kind of smug and insensitive comments multiplying: "these people are stupid, ignorant, it is so much better in my country, let's boycott theirs", etc. There used to be much more interesting discussions a few years back, even if they could be quite lively at times. There are almost no comments from non-Western users anymore. Are they put off by those?
Fridae staff, you have to do something to save your site. It is slowly dying.
Can't we just aim for tolerance and equality for all? It's far simpler and very achievable.
I've even done my bit to help. Fridae however......
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