.png){kind=logo}
LGBTQ people are statistically more socially isolated and more likely to experience feelings of loneliness and anxiety than their straight or gender-conforming counterparts, and although Covid-19 has impacted everyone, everywhere, there are specific consequences for the LGBTQ community that we need to consider so that we are aware and prepared for the impact this situation will have on each of us, as individuals, and on our community, as a whole.
This is a place for you to explore these issues, get practical advice on how to get through this crisis, and most importantly, how to get direct help from the many amazing LGBTQ organisations in Spain who have offered their support to our users.
LGBTQ mental health matters, now more than ever. This is not just a viral pandemic, it’s a mental health pandemic. We are all in this together and together we will beat this.
The impact and risks to our community are wide-ranging and include but are not limited to:
IMPACT ON LGBTQ
The closure of LGBTQ bars, clubs, and spaces, these are our traditional safe-spaces where we could be ourselves without fear or judgement
Complete isolation from other LGBTQ people since we can’t meet friends, colleagues, go on dates
LGBTQ people being forced to remain in situations where they are not out or it’s unsafe to be out, such as moving back in with family members who may be homophobic or who simply do not understand their sexuality or gender-identity, the same could apply to house-shares, emergency shelters, religious households
Older LGBTQ people being at a higher risk of having no family and no or limited friends which can make getting supplies when isolating more difficult and also make illness a terrifying prospect
Being in hospital can be a difficult experience for LGBTQ people and especially trans people since their needs, especially in a crisis, can be overlooked
In times of crisis, minorities are always attacked, and this time is no different. There have already been calls, even in the media, to close down LGBTQ apps to stop us “spreading” the disease. You can be sure there have been few demands that heterosexual apps be closed down.
The issues experienced by the LGBTQ group as a whole are only going to be magnified for the minorities within our minority; trans, elderly, people of colour, refugees, sex workers, etc.
The single most useful thing anyone can do in any type of crisis – corona-related or otherwise - is to: focus on what’s in your control.
You can’t control what happens in the future. You can’t control coronavirus itself or the world economy or how your government manages things, and you can’t magically control your feelings, eliminating all that perfectly natural fear and anxiety.
But you can control what you do - here and now. And that matters.
LOOKING AFTER YOURSELF
GO ON INFORMATION HOLIDAY
The endless updates from news outlets and people on social media can be completely overwhelming. Pick one trusted source of information and visit it once a day only. We recommend the WHO (World Health Organisation) whatsapp chat, simply send “hola” to +41 22 501 76 90 and you can keep yourself up to date whilst remaining in complete control of what news you receive and when, or once a day, ask Alexa“whats on the news” for a 2 minute summary. This really is all you need.
GO ON AN INFORMATION HOLIDAY
The endless updates from news outlets and people on social media can be completely overwhelming. Pick one trusted source of information and visit it once a day only. We recommend the WHO (World Health Organisation) whatsapp chat, simply send “hola” to +41 22 501 76 90 and you can keep yourself up to date whilst remaining in complete control of what news you receive and when, or once a day, ask Alexa“whats on the news” for a 2 minute summary. This really is all you need.
BE SAFE AND STAY CONNECTED
Self-isolation doesn't mean cutting off all communication, in fact, it's more important than ever to talk and listen, share stories and advice, and stay in touch with the people who matter to you or understand you. Talking has the effect of lifting our mood and really helps us to begin to feel more positive if we're having a tough time.
STRENGTHEN YOUR CONNECTIONS
Take this opportunity to make new connections, establish new friendships, or turn acquaintances into friends. We are all in this together and are all seeing the world very differently from how we did just a month ago. If you reach out to people, you will probably be surprised at how receptive they are.
STICK TO A ROUTINE
This will really help you get through each day and week. Go to sleep and wake up at the same time, eat regularly, shower, don't spend the day in your pyjamas, do your hair, arrange video-chats with colleagues or friends, do your chores, make your bed, keep your house clean.
EVENING AND WEEKEND
Try to make a clear distinction between day and night, weekday and weekend. Work, exercise, learn new skills in the day, watch a movie at night, the same applies to the weekend, change your routine on the weekend, sleep late, stay in your pyjamas longer, get dressed up in the evening, make special food if you can, check-in with your friends, video call them.
NOTICE THINGS THAT MAKE YOU FEEL GOOD
It can be easy to go on to auto-pilot. Remind yourself to enjoy things, like food, not having to get up so early to commute, having the time to binge Netflix, having the time to just slow down. Try to notice the world and nature on your way to the supermarket, acknowledge people you see in the street
EXCERCISE
It might be the last thing you want to do, but daily exercise can make a huge difference. It’s much easier to exercise daily if someone else is taking the lead. Sign up to a daily workout youtube channel and try to stick to it as best you can.
RELAX
Even 5 minutes of guided meditation per day can have a huge impact on your mental wellbeing, and it's something everyone can do with no experience. We recommend the headspace app and they are giving away free lessons during the crisis. Use this to clear your head which means you are more likely to be able to enjoy watching films or TV programmes, reading or listening to music. This will help you to set things in context and provide relief from anxious feelings.
Research shows that contact with others who understand how you are feeling is crucial to supporting your mental health, especially during the coronavirus crisis.
Social media and apps are a great way to stay in touch with friends and others in our community, but can also induce anxiety, especially if your feed includes constant news updates or the apps expose you to toxic behaviour. It’s important that you know that you can control your feed by unfollowing or muting the accounts that might make you feel worse and that you can take control of how you use apps and interact with other users, to make sure that your positive interactions far outweigh the negatives.
Wapo/Wapa and other LGBTQ dating apps are a great way to stay virtually connected to our community. At all times, we advise that you #StayHomeStaySafe.
At their core, these apps are communication tools for LGBTQ people. It’s entirely up to you how you choose to communicate with them.
APPS & SOCIAL MEDIA
Take this opportunity to update your profile, make it clear what you are looking for right now from the app and it’s users, as this could be entirely different to what you were looking for just a few weeks ago and you might be sending out mixed signals.
Take this free time you have right now to expand your connections to the LGBTQ community.
Make your boundaries clear. We recommend you post #StayHomeStaySafe on your profile.
Ask other users how they are feeling. Reaching out and making sure others are ok is really important and can put your own situation into context
Be kind to each other, we will only get through this together.
Don’t be judgmental, don't get involved in blame culture, you have no idea what’s going on in other people’s lives, things are rarely black and white, don't be racist, don't be ageist, don’t be transphobic, or generally discriminatory in any way. Use this once in a lifetime opportunity, when normal barriers have broken down, to connect with people you wouldn’t normally connect with. Again, this can really help put your own situation into context.
Use travel mode and the inbuilt translator to check-in with people in other cities and countries.
Remember that at all times, you are in control. If a conversation is going in a direction you don’t like, you can block the other user. If someone is really causing problems, you can report them to us.
Just because we are in lockdown doesn’t mean we have locked down our interest in sex. It’s normal that many of you will have the same sexual desires as you had before lockdown, and it’s also normal that many of you wont be giving sex a second thought.
You are in control.
Virtual sex has been going on since the invention of the dial telephone over 120 years ago, now, with technology, the options are endless. In Wapo/Wapa alone, you have text messages, an inbuilt translator, travel mode, audio messages, video messages, and then third party apps that will allow you to make real-time audio and video calls. With these tools, and some creative thinking, you can have plenty of fun.
Just make sure that you #StayHomeStaySafe, that you are careful with the photos and videos you share, and that all of your interactions are consensual.
SEX DURING LOCKDOWN
GETTING HELP
We are working hard to build a coalition of LGBTQ organisations, private companies, and institutions throughout Spain that are willing and can offer real assistance during the coronavirus crisis. If you're region hasn't been added yet, check out our national page
We would like to thank all of the amazing organisations and entities who have agreed to offer support to our users at this time
