What is Cultural Safety?
Understanding the Importance of Cultural Safety for the LGBTIQA+ Community and Steps to Achieve It
Cultural safety is a term that is often used in the context of healthcare and social services to describe an environment that is respectful and inclusive of diverse cultural backgrounds. It refers to a situation where individuals feel safe and respected in their identity and are able to express themselves without fear of discrimination, harassment or exclusion. For members of the LGBTIQA+ community, cultural safety is a critical aspect of ensuring their health and wellbeing. In this blog post, we will explore what cultural safety means for the LGBTIQA+ community, why it’s important, and some steps that can be taken to create a culturally safe environment.
What is Cultural Safety? 🧐
Cultural safety is a concept that was first developed in the context of healthcare for Indigenous peoples in New Zealand. It has since been adopted in various contexts, including social services, education, and workplace environments. Cultural safety is an approach that recognises the impact of power and privilege in social interactions and aims to create an environment where individuals feel welcome and respected, regardless of their cultural background.
For the LGBTIQA+ community, cultural safety means creating an environment where individuals feel safe and welcome, regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, and other aspects of their identity. It means ensuring that individuals can be their true selves without fear of discrimination, harassment or exclusion. Cultural safety also means recognising, celebrating and valuing diversity within the LGBTIQA+ community.
Why is Cultural Safety important for the LGBTIQA+ Community?
Cultural safety is important for the LGBTIQA+ community because discrimination and harassment based on sexual orientation and gender identity can have significant negative impacts on mental health and wellbeing. Research has shown that LGBTIQA+ individuals are at a higher risk of experiencing depression, anxiety, and suicide compared to the general population. This is due in part to the discrimination and harassment that they may face in their daily lives, which can lead to minority stress.
Creating a culturally safe environment can help to mitigate the effects of minority stress on the LGBTIQA+ community.
Minority stress is an important concept in understanding the impact of discrimination and prejudice on the mental health and wellbeing of marginalised communities, including the LGBTIQA+ community. Minority stress suggests that individuals who belong to stigmatised groups experience additional stress due to experiences of discrimination, prejudice, and stigma. This stress can have negative impacts on mental health, physical health, and overall wellbeing.
Steps to Create Cultural Safety for the LGBTIQA+ Community 🌈
Creating a culturally safe environment for the LGBTIQA+ community requires a deliberate and ongoing effort. Here are some steps that can be taken to create a culturally safe environment:
Education and Training: Education and training are critical in creating a culturally safe environment. It is important to provide training to staff and volunteers on issues related to sexual orientation and gender identity, including appropriate language and terminology, and how to create an inclusive environment.
Inclusive Policies and Procedures: Policies and procedures should be developed with the input of the LGBTIQA+ community to ensure they are inclusive and respectful of their needs. This can include policies on anti-discrimination and harassment, and providing support for transitioning employees.
Representation: Representation and visibility is important in creating a culturally safe environment. This can include representation in leadership positions, as well as visibility in marketing and promotional materials. Visibility also includes celebration of LGBTIQA+ days like IDAHOBIT and Wear It Purple Day.
Safe Spaces: Providing safe spaces where LGBTIQA+ individuals can gather and socialise is important in creating a culturally safe environment. This can include social events, support groups, and online forums.
Consultation and Feedback: Consultation and feedback from the LGBTIQA+ community are critical in creating a culturally safe environment. This can include regular surveys, focus groups, and feedback mechanisms to ensure that their needs are being met.
Creating cultural safety for the LGBTIQA+ community is all about promoting visibility and connection. It involves creating an environment where empathy, understanding, care, and respect are paramount. By fostering cultural safety, LGBTIQA+ individuals can see themselves represented in different ways when engaging with organisations, services, or businesses.
Ultimately, what LGBTIQA+ individuals need most is to feel like they belong and are valued members of the community. An organisation that prioritises creating a welcoming, inclusive, and culturally safe environment enables individuals to be out and open about who they are, knowing that they will be treated with understanding, dignity, and respect.
FURTHER READING 🔖
LOOKING FOR TRAINING FOR YOUR ORGANISATION?
We offer training programs that are designed to promote cultural safety and support the rainbow community. Our training programs are tailored to meet the unique needs of your organisation, and they cover a range of topics including allyship, diversity, equity, and inclusion practices, and strategies for creating more positive workplace cultures.
Contact us today to learn more about our programs and how we can help support your organisation's efforts to promote diversity and inclusion.