MORE than half of all young trans people are the victims of hate crime, according to a shocking new report from Stonewall.
The research, carried out by YouGov, found that two in five trans people, and three in ten non-binary people have experienced a hate crime or incident because of their gender identity.
But for younger trans adults, those aged between 18 to 24, it’s closer to 53 per cent.
The report also found that 79 per cent of trans people did not report their crimes due to a perceived lack of support or fear of further discrimination.
And, according to those spoken to by the LGBT organisation, things are getting worse, not better.
The survey of 871 trans and non-binary people across the country revealed that a third of all trans people say they’ve been discriminated against because of their gender identity while visiting a cafe, restaurant, bar or nightclub.
More than a quarter of trans people in a relationship in the last year have faced domestic abuse. One in four trans people reported experiencing discrimination when house hunting in the last year, saying landlords were unwilling to take them on as tenants.
A quarter of trans people have also experienced homelessness.
Almost half of trans people don’t feel comfortable using public toilets through fear of discrimination or harassment.
And more than two in five trans people said they felt it necessary to avoid certain streets because they don’t feel safe.
Esme, a 32 year old Scot, told the survey: “I have recently started at a new university.
“I was laughed at, ridiculed, and became the butt of jokes that normally gender me as a woman.
“This has been constant since day one.”
Willow, a 40-year-old trans person from Wales, told the survey she was often dismissed as being “mentally ill”.
“We are constantly questioned on our existence, treated hostilely and ridiculed in the name of debate.
“We are constantly exposed to hate and criticism in the media and daily life as the public respond to the media’s attitudes. I’m sick of being described as a mentally ill freak.”
Angus, 24, from Scotland said he was dismissed when he reported his rape to police: “Police kept referring to me as ‘she’ and ‘female’ and using my birth name.
“The doctor they brought to examine me, made me uncomfortable and continued calling me female.”
Though it’s not clear if Angus dealt with Police Scotland, the force’s head of safer communities, Chief Superintendent John McKenzie, said they were taking trans issues seriously.
“Tackling hate crime is a priority for Police Scotland and research shows LGBTI hate crime is under reported.
“We have responded to this by training more than 60 officers to work with the country’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Intersex community to help prevent hate crime.”
He added: “We take all such reports very seriously and will conduct thorough investigations to ensure perpetrators are brought to justice.”
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