United Nations Address on Global LGBT Rights

Respond to at least two colleagues with recommendations of what skills social workers might employ to separate and/or reconcile personal values with professional responsibilities in the scenario presented. Discuss how the barriers to services identified by your colleagues can be overcome by a professional social worker working with LGBTQ clients. Use at least 1 reference.

Colleague 1: A

I believed I am not excluded from this heterosexism. I am from a community with a strong cultural heritage and morals. The word “gay” is generally used to describe an individual who is less than or incomplete to a man. However, the world in the 19th and 20th century has observed a change and acceptance of disparities, the society has evolve and there is freedom to practice religion of your choice, sexual orientation, and even your self-identity (Clinton, 2011). Despite the evolution, the lesbian, gay males, bisexuals, and transgender (LGBT) people are despised and discriminated within our communities, and government parastatals (Clinton, 2011). The LGBT people according to Adams et al., (2013, pp. 381), are targets to “exclusion, denial of civil and legal protections, and in some cases, overt acts of violence”. An example of hate crime and terrorist act on gay was the recent mass shooting in a gay nightclub in Orlando leaving 50 dead (New York Times, 2016, June 16).

Personal opinion, values, and beliefs should not be mixed with professional ethics and code of ethics in social workers. Social workers utmost responsibility is protect the client and fight for injustice without prejudice or bias mind. According to NASW (2001, pp.10), “cultural competence refers to the process by which individuals and systems respond respectfully and effectively to people of all cultures, languages, classes, races, ethnic backgrounds, religions, and other diversity factors in a manner that recognizes, affirms, and values the worth of individuals, families, and communities and protects and preserves the dignity of each”. Despite my upbringing I respect diversity and I have come to respect individual orientation.

References

Adams, M., Blumenfeld, W. J., Castaneda, C., Hackman, H. W., Peters, M. L., &

Zuniga, X. (Eds.). (2013). Readings for diversity and social justice. (3rd Ed.). New

York, NY: Routledge Press.

Clinton, H. R. (2011). United Nations Address on Global LGBT Rights. U.S. Department

of State. Retrieved from http://iipdigital.usembassy.gov/st/english/texttrans/

2011/12/20111206180616su0.4842885. Html#axzz2zeJtVRfq

National Association of Social Workers. (2001). NASW standards for cultural

competence in social work practice. Retrieved from

http://www.socialworkers.org/practice/standards/NASWCulturalStandards.pdf