The Office of National Statistics reports that hate crimes on the basis
of sexual orientation are up by 112% in the last five years and the HomeOffice released figures showing that homophobic hate crimes rose by 41%in 2022. The International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual,T rans, and IntersexAssociation (ILGA-Europe) described this as the deadliest rise inviolence in a decade. ---- To these must be added recent attacksincluding an attack late at night at the Two Brewers pub in London onAugust 13th, an attack at a Brixton bus stop on August 19th, a man inhis 50s attacked on a bus in Clapham a week later, and two men assaultedby six thugs in Chadwell Heath on October 1st.Another disturbing rise was that of transgender hate crimes, which roseby 11 per cent in the year to March 2023. This was their highest ratesince figures for these crimes were first recorded in 2012.Since October 2022, nearly 5,000 hate crimes against transgender peoplehave been recorded.There is profound disquiet in the LGBTQ+ community over the rise in hatecrimes.Why the rise? It has been argued by some that this could be partlyexplained by the willingness of survivors to report such crimes butKieran Aldred of the LGBTQ+ organisation Stonewall refutes this: "Theofficial statistics are just the tip of the iceberg - the vast majorityof LGBTQ+ people who experience hatred and violence in the UK do notreport this. The Government's own National LGBT Survey showed fewer thanone in ten LGBTQ+ people report hate crimes or incidents. Shockinglythis includes only 37% of those who experience physical harassment orviolence." Many point to the homophobic and transphobic invective comingout of the recent Conservative Party conference, where Rishi Sunak andSuella Braverman vied with each other for the most hate-filled rhetoric.Robbie de Santos of Stonewall said "As a survivor of a violent attackmyself, I know the awful reality behind these rising numbers. Whatconcerns me even more is that political leaders haven't acted seriouslyor quickly enough. Instead many of them are filling the public domainwith toxic language that dehumanises LGBTQ+ people and legitimisesviolence. The UK Government failed to implement any sort of strategythat responds to their own statistics and reports."The sustained campaigns not just in the UK but globally by alt-right/farright groups in whipping up homophobia and transphobia are also toblame for the rise, as is the foul propaganda pumped out by media likeGB News. The pronouncements of Sunak, Braverman, Truss and otherpoliticians legitimise the language of the far right.The modern LGBTQ+ movement emerged out of a period of heightenedstruggle worldwide in the sixties. The Gay Liberation Front was foundednot long after the Stonewall revolt in 1969 in New York, triggered by apolice raid. It rightly took the side of the oppressed and recognisedcapitalism as its enemy.LGBTQ+ people need to look towards mobilising on the streets against theattacks and against the hate campaigns.https://www.anarchistcommunism.org/2023/12/06/lgbtq-hate-crime-on-the-rise/_________________________________________A - I N F O S N E W S S E R V I C EBy, For, and About AnarchistsSend news reports to A-infos-en mailing listA-infos-en@ainfos.ca
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