A new study from Stonewall has found that more than half of LGBTQ+ couples in the UK are afraid to hold hands in public, among other public displays of affections. Findings from the study show that 56% of queer couples shy away from holding hands in public for fear of discriminatory actions from others in public spaces. Stonewall’s data also found that more than half of reported hate crimes were public order offenses and a corresponding 41% involved violence, with 5% recorded as criminal damage. The research has been released in association with Stonewall’s “Hold My Hand” campaign, which urges the U.K. government to address the recent rise in LGBTQ+ hate crimes, according to Pink News.
Stonewall is an organization founded in 1989 that advocates for LGBTQ+ people across the United Kingdom. Founded after the passing of Section 28, legislation banning the ‘promotion of homosexuality’ by schools and councils across the country, the organization has since played a role in the passing of major legislation on LGBTQ+ rights , including equal age of consent for gay and bi men, LGBTQ+ adoption, discrimination protections, civil partnerships and more.
The New CEO of Stonewall, Simon Blake wrote in a recent statement: “So much progress has been made over the past three decades. As a nation, we should be hugely proud of the advances that have been made both in law and culturally. Equally, we should all be concerned about the divisive rhetoric and entrenched positions that have permeated public discourse and policy making in recent years.”
Sentiments toward the LGBTQ+ community in the U.K. have been poor over the past year, with the country receiving low marks in evaluations of LGBTQ+ quality of life. A rise in hate crimes against the queer community has also been observed within the past two years, according to data released by the British government last fall. Between 2022 and 2023, hate crimes decreased overall, yet hate crimes targeted at the transgender community remained high.
