Homophobic violence includes a range of behaviour that includes verbal abuse, vandalism, threats and actual assault. This behaviour is attributed directly towards social intolerance towards those who are (or are perceived) not to be “straight”.
Incidents where heterosexual people have been mistaken as being gay and attacked and violence in the heterosexual setting such as a father assaulting a family member because he/she has “come out” can also be considered homophobic crimes.
A homophobic incident within Central Scotland is defined as “Any incident which is perceived to be homophobic by the victim or any other person”.
Attacks on the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans-gender community are unacceptable and can often be prevented with a little care. In this Police area there are some problems determining the extent and nature of homophobic violence because traditionally, homophobic crime goes unreported to the Police. There is a lack of information and research on the LGBT community, thus LGBT issues remain invisible in mainstream crime research.
The reasons for members of the LGBT community not reporting crime are:
- the incident was not serious enough;
- They perceive that police wouldn’t do anything about reported incidents.
- the complainer expected a negative reaction from the police;
- concern about “coming out” to the police;
- ·fear of retaliation or isolation;
- Fear of not being believed.
It is a known fact that:
- homophobic incidents most frequently involve one victim
- most victims are unaccompanied when the incident occurs
- incidents can occur at any time of the day, not just after pubs and clubs have closed;
- suspects are usually neighbours, local youths, or other people known to the victim;
- Same sex domestic violence has similar patterns of violence to heterosexual domestic violence.
The following advice has been compiled to help reduce your chances of becoming a victim of homophobic crime.
Out and About:
- Always try to leave any venue with trusted friends
- If you leave a bar, club, cruising area, etc., with someone you have just met introduce them to a member of staff or someone you know
- Make sure the person you’re leaving with knows that others are aware you are leaving the venue together
- Trust your instincts; if you feel something is wrong, it probably is so remove yourself from potential danger
- Awareness is your best form of self-defence. Stay alert. Know who is around you at all times especially if you are in unfamiliar territory.
- Walk confidently as if you know where you are going, but try not to walk alone especially if you are upset, drunk or on drugs.
- Be aware of potentially dangerous places such as dimly lit streets, dense shrubbery, alleyways, hidden doorways, common closes etc.
- Carry a personal attack alarm, but keep it accessible and use it if you encounter any form of trouble. They usually scare the attacker away.
Street Trouble:
- If you feel threatened or unsafe, trust your instincts and leave the area as soon as possible
- If you see someone being harassed or hear a personal attack alarm, respond by either helping them or calling the police. The purpose is not to physically intervene but to scare off the attackers.
- Be bold and don’t be afraid to shout for help or assistance
- Be aware that harassment is often a prelude to assault. Try not to respond to jibes no matter how offensive they may be.
- Stay calm and make an attempt to de-escalate the situation.
- If your attempt at quiet resolution fails, try to escape as quickly as possible. Remember, a person who is attacked has a right to defend him/herself using reasonable force but be careful about using any form of weapon. Even a key can, in certain circumstances, be construed as an offensive weapon in the eyes of the law.
- If someone is baiting you with homophobic insults you might want to challenge their bigotry. If you do, are you prepared for what might follow? Homophobes need to be told when they are wrong – but not at the expense of your personal safety. Each situation is unique and everyone has different personal de-escalation skills, so let judgement be your guide.
- If you are harassed or are a victim of vandalism, assault etc make sure you record the details of the incident and report it to the police.
- If you receive abusive or obscene phone calls, hang up immediately. Don’t say anything; an emotional reaction is likely to be what the nuisance caller wants. Consider reporting the matter to the police or use your phone company’s help-line to report such a call.
If You’re a Victim of Crime:
- If you’re the victim of any form of homophobic incident, call the police.
- If you are a victim of homophobic crime and want to pass information on but don’t want to contact the police, use a remote reporting facility such as the help-line number or internet. If you’ve been assaulted don’t shower, wash or change your clothes. You could be destroying vital evidence.
- Don’t drink alcohol or take drugs. You’ll need to give a clear account.
- Try to write down any description of attacker(s) and the incident.
- If your keys are stolen along with identification of your address, call home and let them know. Replace your locks immediately.
- Consider asking a friend to go home with you.
- Consider calling Victim Support . They can help with counselling and advice on criminal justice procedures etc. If you are unsure about the way the police are asking questions ask them to liaise with the local LGBT Groups.
- All reported incidents should be recorded and thoroughly investigated.
- Police Officers must be sympathetic and understanding and not inconsiderate to the needs of the individual.
- Support from referral agencies i.e. Victim Support, Gay Switchboards, Citizens Advice Bureau etc only with the express permission of the victim.
- Attempt to identify repeat victimisation, patterns and trends. Maintain an overview of homophobic incidents and take action to resolve any problem that exists.
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