The Hidden Pandemic: Increase in Violence against LGBTQ+ Community
T/W LGBTQ+ violence
United Nations Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (IE SOGI) has launched a report into the global increase in violence against members of the LGBTQ+ community. They quickly discovered that direct parallels can be drawn between the increase in LGBTQ+ violence and the pandemic.
Stay-at-home directives, isolation, increased stress and exposure to disrespectful family members exacerbate the risk of violence, with particular impact on older persons and youths. A recent survey in Iran found that more than 50% of respondents had experienced increased violence. Submissions concerning Europe reported an increase in domestic violence in a majority of surveyed countries. Restrictions of movement created exacerbated risk of abuse during street controls, with reports of selective arrests; hate crimes such as harmful exposure on social media; arbitrary detentions and a general increase in mistreatment in the public sphere.
The use of LGBTQ+ lives as scapegoat and fuel for hatred was also evidenced in responses to the pandemic. LGBTQ+ people are being singled out, blamed, abused, incarcerated and stigmatised as vectors of disease during the COVID-19 pandemic. There are many statements by religious and political leaders blaming the pandemic on the very existence of LGBTQ+ persons, their families, social groups and institutions. Reports of such statements come from at least 12 European countries, including Ukraine and Georgia; also from Turkey, Iraq, Ghana, Liberia, Zimbabwe and the United States.
Below are just a small number of the facts gathered from across the globe:
Hate crimes against LGBT+ people increased by 36% in Germany in 2020, highlighting an increase in homophobic attacks and politically motivated violence
New figures obtained by the BBC from all 45 police forces in the UK reveal that the number of reported homophobic hate crime cases almost trebled - from 6,655 in 2014-15, the year same sex marriage became legal in England, to 18,465 in 2019-20
Homophobic attacks and insults in France rose by 36% last year, according to figures released by the interior ministry
350 transgender people were killed in 2020
The average age of those killed was 31, with the youngest just 15.
While a fifth (22%) of the transgender people murdered were killed inside their own house.
How can I help?
Donate to your local LGBTQ+ charity, call out homophobic, biphobic or transphobic abuse, attend protests, amplify queer voices, and contact your local representatives asking about their anti-hate legislations and how it protects the LGBTQ+ community.
Good practice was identified in Peru and Spain, which published guidance on the different economic support programs available to LGBTQ+ persons, including shelter, health and emotional support. In Buenos Aires, Argentina, information was available to preventively trigger processes to ensure continuity of shelter for trans persons and their inclusion in emergency income programs. The Philippines took steps to include same-sex partners with children in cash aid programmes, usually designed around traditional family models.