The Scottish LGBTI Hate Crime Report is Scotland’s most comprehensive study

of hate crime against LGBTI people. Based on a detailed survey of 1,445 people in Scotland, the report reveals some very important statistics. The annual report was produced by the Equality Network with the help of Scottish Trans Alliance. 

The new research explores the proportion of LGBTI people who have experienced or witnessed hate incidents or crimes relating to sexual orientation, transgender status, and intersex status in Scotland, and the nature of those incidents and crimes. The research was carried out through an online survey which was open to all people, as anyone can be a target of or witness to a crime motivated by prejudice against LGBTI people (for example, a heterosexual person may be targeted because they are perceived to be gay).

However, because LGBTI people are more likely to experience such hate crime, the survey, and therefore the findings of this report, focus primarily on the experiences of LGBTI people. The report also explores what proportion of LGBTI hate incidents are reported to the police, why people do not report, and people’s experiences of the criminal justice system after they report. It also examines LGBTI people’s views on the current legislation.

Key findings of the research include:

Prevalence of hate crime

• 65% of lesbian respondents had been a target of a hate crime at
some point in their lives.

• 66% of gay male respondents had been a target of a hate crime.

• 53% of bisexual respondents had been a target of a hate crime.

• 80% of trans respondents had been a target of a hate crime.

• 77% of the relatively small number of intersex respondents had
been a target of a hate crime.

• 90% of respondents who had been a target of hate crime
experienced it two or more times, and nearly a third (30%)
experienced hate crime more than ten times.

For more information go contact Hannah Pearson, Policy Coordinator at the Equality Network This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit http://www.equality-network.org/