The Observatori Contra l’Homofòbia highlights the intensity of the attacks and the fact that there are more minor aggressors
The lgtbiphobic incidents (which include any situation of discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity, not just aggression) increased by 19.8% in Catalonia during the first quarter of this year compared to the first quarter of 2022. Specifically, from January 1 to March 31 of this year, the Observatory Against Homophobia (OCH) recorded a total of 85 incidents in front of 71 of the first three months of last year.
The entity stakes with concern the increase in attacks on the LGTBI community in it school environment, what is he second realm, after the public highway, which registers the most incidents.
“The pattern is the same: the gay man is the one who reports the most incidents, but in the field of lesbophobia there has also been an increase”, highlighted Eugeni Rodriguez, OCH President. In addition, despite the fact that the number of incidents registered against trans people have not increased compared to last year (although this group continues to suffer one in four assaults that all LGTBI receive), but are maintained, the entity highlights its intensity, and cites as examples the case of the suicide of the Sallent girls, one of whom had expressed her desire to be treated as a child, the attack on a trans woman in the street or the transphobic statements by political representatives.
According to Rodríguez, the OCH data show the “rising trend of violence” against the LGTBI collective, something that “the public powers are not stopping”. “There is not enough political will in the form of economic resources”, said Rodríguez, who has expressed concern because lgtbiphobia is reaching “under 13 or 14 years of age”. prove it. He has reiterated, not only the case of Sallent (which was the “outburst”), but also the aggression that a group of gays suffered in Sitges (Barcelona) on New Year’s Eve. Among the attackers were three minors.
Together with Rodríguez, the deputy of En Comú Podem Susanna Segovia, president of the equality commission of the Parliament, has claimed for the schools the “necessary resources” To address this problem, since “A fundamental pillar is intervention from education.”
Segovia has also asked to deploy the law 11/2014, intended to defend LGTBI rights. “The resources, the money, are not put in,” she denounced. In addition, he has highlighted that lgtbiphobia is not an aggression or group of aggressions, but that it is “something structural” of society. “That’s why the answer must be structural.”
rise in lesbophobia
as highlighted Albert Carrasco, responsible for the record of incidents of the Observatory, the gay man is the group that registers the most incidents (49.5%), followed by trans collective (23.2%). Afterwards, they are placed generalist type aggressions (those aimed at the LGTBI collective in general and not at natural persons, as they can be painted), with 16.8%. And lastly, the lesbian woman (7.4% of incidents) and the bisexual person (1%). The entity highlights the increase in assaults on lesbians.
Barcelona It is also the Catalan city that more incidents has been registered, with a total of 62 (72.9% of the total), differing significantly from the quantitative data of the rest of provinces. Inside Barcelona, Sant Marti It is the district where there has been the most. In tarragona three incidents were registered and in Girona two, while in Lleida none at the moment.
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As for the ambit in which these attacks on the LGTBI collective take place, the public road is the most registered (20% of incidents). “And the second is the educational”, Carrasco has alerted. “We are getting a lot of incidents of bullying by gender identity or gender expression. It may be that the case of Ivan in Sallent have had a rebound effect and has increased these complaints”, has valued.
In addition, there are also many attacks on Internet and social networks, as well as in the nightlife and the Sports field. As for the guy of aggression, the verbal it is the second most registered and most common type of discrimination (21 incidents, 24.7% of the total). The first are the hate speech and exaltation (22, 25.9%). In third place are physical attacks (15.3%) and inappropriate treatment (14%), for example in establishments.