The European Commission warns of the rise of LGBTIphobic bullying in Europe in a report
Cases of harassment suffered by people LGTBIQ + or at least their self-recognition has multiplied in recent years. The annual report of the European Commission on the implementation of the equality strategy for the period 2020-2025 detects a “Significant increase in hate-motivated harassment against LGBTIQ people", what goes from 37% in 2019 to 55% last year, that is, a increase of 18 points in four years.
The attacks especially affect the Trans, non-binary, gender diverse and intersex people, according to the document published by the European Commission, which is largely based on data collected through the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) survey. Most people LGTBIQ (63%) have frequently encountered hate speech on the Internet. Another worrying fact is that the number of people who have been harassed has increased. bullying in schools for children LGTBIQ + from 46% to 67%. There has also been a slight increase in discrimination against intersex people seeking employment (31% compared to 27% four years ago).
LGTBIphobia
"LGBTIQ-phobic hate is exacerbated by the rise of anti-gender and anti-LGBTIQ narratives”, says the community government, which points to the speech that uses references to the “LGTBIQ+ propaganda” or to the “gender ideology"as the cause of an adverse breeding ground against this group. The increase in harassment has coincided with the rise of the forces of extreme right who precisely use these messages against equality policies.
These are the alarm bells that the European Commission has detected, although it has also recorded some improvements, such as a slight decrease in the percentage of people who feel discriminated against for their sexual orientation (from 42% to 36%). The number of countries that recognise the right to privacy has also increased substantially. gay marriage (21 compared to 13 four years ago) or the push for laws for the recognition of gender self-determination, in force in eleven member states while they only existed in four in 2019.
This allows the community government to ensure that the implementation of the equality strategy is having a “positive impact". "Helps to integrate equality LGTBIQ + in different political spheres, with an intersectional perspective"The report notes that collaboration with Member States is a priority. Only 12 of the 27 have developed such a national strategy.
Progress is “fragile”
As a positive point for Spain, aims at the preparation of two different strategies: a national strategy for equal treatment and non-discrimination of people LGTBIQ + and another for the social inclusion of trans people. In fact, Spain has risen to fourth place in the ranking of countries with the most rights LGTBIQ + since the approval of the trans law.
On the contrary, one of the countries that is most worrying in Brussels is Hungary, to which European Commission has taken to court for its homophobic laws. In general terms, Brussels nevertheless defends the progress of the equality strategy.Although the EU and its member states have made significant progress in moving towards a Union of Equality, there is still a long way to go to build a welcoming and equal society for all.", the report states, warning that "Progress towards LGTBIQ equality is fragile".
