Six out of ten LGBT people don’t want to hold hands in public – Radar
Six out of ten LGBTI people in Europe avoid holding their partner’s hand in public. This is reported by the European Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) on the basis of a survey of some 140,000 people in 2019.
Fear, violence and discrimination have been high since an initial survey in 2012, according to the FRA. Respondents identify discrimination that occurs on a daily basis and at all levels: at work, at school, in search of a home or in health care.
Two out of five respondents said they had been harassed in the year before the survey. In general, trans and intersex people are mainly targeted. In 2019, about 60 percent of trans people felt discriminated against, up from 43 percent in 2012.
There are also positive developments. In 2019, about 52 percent of over-18s were public with their sexual orientation or identity, compared to only 36 percent in 2012. It is also noted that the issue of LGBTI people is being raised more strongly in school than before.
Progress “still too rare”
Belgium is not really one of the best students. Our country is part of the countries where LGBTI people report the most incidents they have experienced, but 37 percent avoid certain places for fear of being attacked, harassed or insulted.
The Scandinavian countries, the Netherlands and Malta are very well received in the European Agency’s ranking. In Poland, Lithuania, Serbia and northern Macedonia, living as an LGBTI person is the most difficult.
FRA Director Michael O’Flaherty notes that progress is still generally too rare and that many people remain at risk, although some countries have improved equal treatment. “Too many LGBTI people continue to live in the shadows, fear being mocked, discriminated against or even attacked,” he said.
Fear, violence and discrimination have been high since an initial survey in 2012, according to the FRA. Respondents identify discrimination that occurs on a daily basis and at all levels: at work, at school, in search of a home or in health care. Two out of five respondents said they had been harassed in the year before the survey. In general, trans and intersex people are mainly targeted. In 2019, about 60 percent of trans people felt discriminated against, up from 43 percent in 2012. There are also positive developments. In 2019, about 52 percent of over-18s were public with their sexual orientation or identity, compared to only 36 percent in 2012. It is also noted that the issue of LGBTI people is being raised more strongly in school than before. Belgium is not really one of the best students. Our country is part of the countries where LGBTI people report the most incidents they have experienced, but 37 percent avoid certain places for fear of being attacked, harassed or insulted. The Scandinavian countries, the Netherlands and Malta are very well received in the European Agency’s ranking. In Poland, Lithuania, Serbia and northern Macedonia, living as an LGBTI person is the most difficult. FRA Director Michael O’Flaherty notes that progress is still generally too rare and that many people remain at risk, although some countries have improved equal treatment. “Too many LGBTI people continue to live in the shadows, fear being mocked, discriminated against or even attacked,” he said.
