Commemorating the 1990 decision of the World Health Organization to remove homosexuality from the list of mental disorders, May 17 marks the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia. Created in 2004 to draw attention to the violence and discrimination experienced by members of the LGBTQ+ community, May 17 is now as much a celebration of sexual diversity as it is a reminder of the challenges that persist. This year’s theme “Together always: united in diversity,” was chosen to “recognize the power of solidarity, community and allyship across different identities, movements and borders,” at a time when the progress made in recent decades is increasingly at risk.
Unfortunately, recent data from the Home Office reveals a distressing rise in hate crimes against LGBTQ individuals in England and Wales, countering the notion that growing acceptance and legal protections should result in a decline in acts of prejudice and violence. According to the Home Office, the police recorded more than 30,000 hate crimes motivated by sexual orientation or transgender identity in the year ending March 2022, more than double the number of comparable crimes recorded in 2017/18. Hate crimes motivated by sexual orientation rose 41 percent in the latest reported year alone, marking the steepest increase since the time series began in 2011/12.
While the Home Office notes that improved reporting and growing awareness of hate crimes have likely contributed to the latest increases in recorded cases, the numbers are still cause for concern, as they reveal an alarming presence of prejudice and intolerance. The numbers underline that LGBTQ individuals, who have fought tirelessly for their rights and recognition, continue to face discrimination and violence solely based on their sexual orientation or gender identity, a fact that should be unacceptable to any open and modern society.
