Stonewall Come out for LGBT

Hate crime against gay, lesbian and bisexual people in Britain has risen by a massive 78 per cent in the last four years.

The proportion of gay, lesbian and bisexual people who have experienced a hate crime rose from nine per cent in 2013 up to 16 per cent in 2017.

The new research by Stonewall based on YouGov polling of over 5,000 LGBT people has kicked off the group’s #ComeOutForLGBT campaign to encourage people to report hate crimes and show support.

Currently, four fifths of hate crimes against LGBT people are not reported to the police, the research found.

Chief Executive of Stonewall Ruth Hunt said: “While we have come a long way in the past 25 years, it is clear there is still a huge amount of work we need to do before all LGBT people can feel safe, included and free to be themselves in Britain today.

“This report warns against complacency, and stands as a call to action for everyone who supports equality. We now need to work together, to bring forward the day when no individual faces hatred or discrimination simply because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

“At Stonewall, we want everyone across Britain who feels impacted by reading this report to join our campaign and pledge to come out for LGBT people everywhere, as visible allies.

“Together we can create a world where LGBT people are accepted without exception.”

In total, 21 per cent of LGBT people experienced a hate crime or incident due to their sexual orientation and/or gender identity in the last 12 months.

Beyond its headline figures, the research also broke down the numbers for hate crimes directed at certain groups within the LGBT community, with some groups at much greater risks of incidents than others.

Trans people were especially at risk of such incidents, with 41 per cent experiencing a hate crime or hate incident because of their gender identity in the last 12 months.

And 34 per cent of black, Asian and minority ethnic LGBT people have experienced a hate crime based on their sexual orientation and/or gender identity in the last 12 months, compared with 20 per cent of white LGBT people.

Prosecutors in the UK recently suggested that biphobic hate crime is distinct from homophobic hate crime and should be recognised as such.

Shocking figures released earlier this year after research from Pride in London found that almost half of LGBT Londoners have experienced hate crime.

Stonewall has made the following recommendations for LGBT people:

1. Take a visible stand against LGBT hate crime, join Stonewall’s ‘Come Out for LGBT’ campaign and show your support for LGBT equality in all forms. Encourage your friends, family and colleagues to join the campaign.

2. Call out online anti-LGBT abuse whenever you see it, so long as it is safe to do so. Support those being targeted by letting them know you are an ally.

3. Let local business owners know if you witness an anti-LGBT incident from staff or other customers so that they can tackle it. Make clear that they could risk losing you and others as customers if they don’t

4. Report incidents of homophobic, biphobic or transphobic discrimination you experience when accessing public services like housing or social services to the service provider or local council so they can take action. Contact Stonewall’s Information Service on 08000 50 20 20 for advice and support.