In recent years, violence and harassment against LGBT+ people in Europe have reached a “new peak”, according to a survey released on the 14th by the European Union’s human rights agency.
The European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) found that although more LGBT+ people feel encouraged to openly express their identity, discrimination remains high. They face “more violence, harassment and intimidation” than previously.
FRA interviewed more than 100,000 LGBT+ people from the 27 EU Member States, as well as Albania, North Macedonia and Serbia. The survey revealed that 14% of respondents had suffered physical or sexual assault in the five years prior to the 2023 survey, with intersex people being the most affected.
This data represents an increase of three percentage points compared to a similar survey carried out by FRA in 2019. The results are a “clear sign of alarm”, despite presenting a “paradox”, as highlighted by FRA director, Sirpa Rautio. “On the one hand, more people are coming out, but on the other, everyday harassment, bullying in schools, hate crimes and high rates of violence show a different reality,” she warned.
“Most LGBTQ people still avoid holding hands with their partners in public for fear of attack,” said a statement accompanying the report. However, the Vienna-based agency noted that discrimination is often not visible, with incidents underreported.
Bullying in schools has worsened dramatically, with more than two in three respondents saying they have been victims, a significant increase compared to one in two in 2019.
In Hungary, where LGBT+ rights have been questioned in recent years, just 3% of respondents believe their government “combats prejudice and intolerance” against them, the lowest percentage in the EU, compared to an average of 26% across the bloc.
To more effectively combat hate campaigns and disinformation against LGBT+ people, the FRA called on Member States to “address the risk of distortion in algorithms and ensure accountability of digital platforms in accordance with EU law”.
Source: Maxima
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