Stats Coming in From UK on LGBT Hate Crimes are Shocking!

Revelers wave flags during a gay pride parade in downtown Madrid, Spain, July 2, 2016.

 © 2016 Reuters

Human Rights Watch

Philippa H Stewart 

Senior Media Officer

New hate crime data for the United Kingdom shows a shocking number of incidents targeting LGBT people. As I was reading these figures, the need for LGBT-inclusive classes in UK schools has never been more apparent.

The data, released last week, shows police recorded 14,491 crimes committed against people because of their sexual orientation in 2018-19.

Police recorded further 2,333 offenses against transgender people because of their gender identity.

Every year, the UK government releases police data on hate crimes on the basis of race, religion, disability, sexual orientation, and gender identity. Offenses are recorded as hate crimes if the

victim or witnesses believe the motivation is one of these things because of, for example, 

slurs shouted during the attack. The term “hate crime” can cover verbal abuse, intimidation, 

threats, harassment, assault, and bullying, as well as damage to property.

This year's reported figures were up across the board, something the Home Office says is largely due to improved reporting and recording methods. According to Stonewall UK, only one out

 of five hate crimes against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) 

people are reported to the police.

But despite an increase in reporting, the number of cases that lead to prosecutions has actually fallen.

One way to help reduce the vitriol aimed at LGBT people could be to teach children 

about inclusion and acceptance from a young age.

But attempts to add more LGBT-inclusive curriculum have caused some parents to pull their children out of school in some cases on faith grounds.

Protests targeted the No Outsiders program, which is taught at a group of schools

 in Birmingham and encourages children to accept differences in, among other things,

 families and relationships.

The schools suspended the program in March. When the classes resumed after the summer break,

the schools faced renewed protests. Some cities with similar lessons, such as Manchester, 

have faced problems as well. The government issued a set of guidelines to schools dealing with protests, but some teachers told the BBC they still don’t feel they

Was the help needed?

The UK plans to make “relationship” education compulsory by 2020, which is great news

  for future generations of LGBT children. But for adults facing intolerance now, the police

 should

If you have been victimized don't be a victim any longer send a clear message that hate crimes will not be tolerated and will be investigated.