The shocking reason LGBT people aren’t reporting hate crimes
By Will Stroude
LGBT people aren’t reporting hate crimes because they experience them so commonly, a new study has revealed.
The study by the University of Leicester and the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) suggests that hate crime is an “everyday reality” for many LGBT people, who often feel that verbal and physical harassment or abuse is “part and parcel” of their lives.
Dr Stevie-Jade Hardy from the University of Leicester’s Centre for Hate Studies found that 88 percent of the 50 people she spoke to for the report had been a victim of a hate crime, and that as as ‘visible targets’, people in rural areas were more likely to suffer, The Telegraph reports.
Dr Hardy explained that national statistics suggest that LGBT hate crime remains hugely under-reported, with around 35,000 cases going unreported each year. With the slogan, ‘Recognise it Report it’, campaigners are encouraging LGBT people to report all cases of harassment to the police.
Dr Hardy said: “The impact is huge, not only from this research but from our previous studies, we know that it has a significant emotional, physical health impact on people where they are scared to go out. They are scared to reveal that aspect of their identity.”
EHRC Deputy chairwoman Caroline Waters added it was “unacceptable” that people “still face such persistent prejudice, abuse and discrimination”.
She said: “It is a tragedy that there is still a backdrop of intolerance and abuse which stays largely unreported and hidden from society.
“We are a country with proud traditions of tolerance and respect but we must not let important progress in areas such as same-sex marriage mask the acute and continuing challenges that still remain.
“Researchers in today’s report were told of victims fear of not being taken seriously, how they were scared of being ‘outed’ and suspicion and distrust of the authorities.
“We must all redouble our efforts, and work together to give LGB and T communities a stronger voice and put an end to the hatred that is a blight on modern society.”
Equalities Minister Nicky Morgan said of the findings: “The EHRC has my full support in its campaign to encourage LGB&T people to report hate crimes to the relevant authorities, and they deserve to know that when they report these abhorrent crimes they will be taken seriously and dealt with fairly.”
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