Section B

Dear Community, hello! How’s it going? Can you believe the year’s almost over? Man… I can’t wait. But while we’re still here, let’s talk. Some days ago, I saw a question on the internet yesterday that read “In what way has the healthcare system made it difficult for the LGBTQ community?”. It reminded me of a Social Studies Section B question. Good times. I thought I’d answer it in today’s post.  

In what way has the healthcare system made it difficult for the LGBTQ community?

What was it that I said in The Good Gays (also All About That Ace)? The problem is queerphobia. That’s my short answer to the question, so now let’s get into the why.

One thing about me? As far as I’m concerned, everything is the government’s fault. The healthcare “system” in Ghana is barely existent. 

Remember Where Is The Face God? I talked about the Tamale Teaching Hospital soliciting funds on TV and the internet to be able to build a pediatric block. Every other day on Twitter I see someone lament about one lack or the other in a Ghanaian public hospital. If it isn’t oxygen, it’s a bed. Mortuary workers haven’t been paid in years, doctors are still waiting for their COVID allowances…The government makes healthcare in this country difficult. 

Actually, the government makes living in this country difficult. The healthcare system is fighting for its life like the rest of us. I don’t blame them. I think if anyone has made things difficult for us, it’s the colonizers, and the government for upholding those dead laws. Ghana was a (less) homophobic country even before the anti-LGBTQ+ bill was introduced, thanks to the British laws against “unnatural carnal knowledge” and whatnot. 

Laws shape public opinion. Most people’s sense of right and wrong is rooted in their religious beliefs and the laws of their country. Na wa for the gays o because neither option is crazy about us.

Anyway, so these children grow up in a homophobic society, thanks to Ghana’s current homophobic laws, become homophobes and of course, take their homophobia to work with them. There are homophobes in lots of places. Maybe we don’t hear about them because those services aren’t a matter of life and death. 

I don’t think the healthcare system itself makes things difficult for us as queer people. Queerphobic laws make it hard for you to tell your doctor that even though your gender on paper says M, you’d like to start taking oestrogen pills, or that the reason you refuse to take a pregnancy test every time he suggests it is because you don’t have sex with men. These are adults who grew up on homophobia; they picked it up along the way and I don’t think they’ll be letting go of it anytime soon. 

Could it be something about the way doctors are taught in medical school? Would you be surprised to know I blame the government for that as well? I was hoping you’d know me by now. Anyway, even if you disagree with me, the government definitely enables homophobia by never changing those dusty “unnatural carnage” laws, charging people with them, ignoring homophobic violence in the country (they know very well about it), and in recent times, locking up the LGBTQ+ Rights Ghana office and passing the anti-LGBTQ+ bill.  

“What should they do?”, one might ask. They can start by doing something. The real question is what are they doing? 

Yes, I do think they should be fighting queerphobia. I think by now they should have done something about the violence queer people are subjected to. in this county They should employ someone to watch the news, write reports and implement plans to make everyone’s life better. They could at least follow that account on Twitter called Ghana Crimes or something, and like, actually do something. That’s what anyone who claims to care about their job, or about anyone, should do.

I know, there’s the general issue of hyper-religiousness in the country and in the medical field, as well as the inability to separate personal beliefs from work. I don’t think they make things difficult for us, though. I feel like they’re just like the rest of homophobic Ghana, except they provide an essential service. That’s how I feel. 

How about you? Do you think the nature of their work demands that they be held to higher standards? Who do you think should hold them accountable? 

Feel free to comment, respond, yap along with me. You’re very welcome. If you’d rather talk than type, you’re in luck. Community Chat 3 is coming to you this Saturday at 6pm GMT. I’ll tell you more later. Chat soon!