Ahead of Portsmouth Pride this weekend, Stephen Morgan MP has urged the Minister for Women and Equalities to take action to reduce hate crimes against transgender people, which have seen a 56% increase from 2021-2022.
It follows the release of Government data which revealed that under the Conservatives’ watch, sexuality and gender identity-based hate crimes have increased by 41% and 56% respectively.
Mr Morgan said the figures make clear the Government’s policies are failing.
According to Stonewall, two in five trans people have experienced a hate crime or incident because of their gender identity in the last 12 months. Yet only one in three LGBT+ hate crime victims are able to access the professional support they need afterwards, according to the LGBT+ anti-abuse charity Galop.
As a result, LGBT+ victims are forced to cope with the emotional and psychological impact alone, adding to burden on a community already disproportionately struggling with their mental health.
LGBT+ people are offered a level of protection in the law under the UK’s existing hate crime legislation framework, provided by the protected characteristics of sexual orientation and gender identity.
However, these categories of hate crime do not carry aggravated offences in the same way as race and religion, nor an offence related to “stirring up hatred” against trans people, as exists for race, religion or sexual orientation under the Public Order Act 1986.
The Law Commission has recommended reforming this legislation to ensure that LGBT+ victims receive the same protections in the eyes of the law. The Labour Party has committed to adopting the recommendations, as well as introducing tougher sentences for hate crimes against LGBT+ people.
Commenting Portsmouth South MP, Stephen Morgan, said:
“At best, these figures demonstrate a clear failure of Government policy to tackle this issue. At worse, they are indicative of a Government actively contributing to an atmosphere of hostility against LGBT+ people.
With half of LGBT+ people reportedly having experienced depression, and 2 in 5 having experienced anxiety, there is simply too much at stake for the Government not to act.
That’s why I’m backing calls to ensure hate crimes against LGBT+ people are treated with the seriousness they deserve.”
The former Minister for Equalities had previously said that the Government had created “an atmosphere of hostility for LGBT+ people” when resigning from office last year, which several organisations have argued corresponds to the increase in hate crimes against LGBT+ people year on year.
Mr Morgan will continue to take actions on these matters, including pressing the Government to introduce tougher sentences for LGBT+ based hate crimes, and campaigning for better mental health support for the community.
