Addressing Stigma: Exploring The Experiences of Mëranao LGBT

Abstract

The study investigates the challenges faced by Mëranao Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) individuals by exploring their narratives. It interrogates the stigma they encountered and evaluates societal acceptance. Drawing from Erving Goffman's definition, stigma is portrayed as a deeply derogatory characteristic. Through in-depth interviews, the experiences of the participants reveal four main types of stigma: associative stigma linked to their religious and cultural identity, perceived stigma limiting their thoughts and actions, internalized stigma leading to feelings of isolation, and public stigma stemming from societal acceptance. Moreover, this study examines social acceptance among two distinct groups, revealing that while LGB individuals are deemed unacceptable within homogeneous communities, they are accepted within heterogeneous ones. However, within the homogeneous community, negative perceptions persist, particularly towards LGBT individuals in military and government roles. The study also underscores the strong disapproval within the context of behavior and religion.