Throughout 2020, the Ministry of the Interior published its report on hate crimes in our country.
In said report, hate crimes fell globally by 16.5% in the midst of the pandemic, but curiously, those related to sexual orientation or gender identity remained intact.
Catalonia, the Basque Country and Madrid top the hate list for LGTBIphobia
The Ministry of the Interior recorded 277 hate crimes due to LGTBIphobia, of which 69 occurred in Catalonia, 45 in the Basque Country and 40 in Madrid.
The latest viral news has been as a result of the premiere of the movie Lightyear that has been about to be canceled due to the kiss between two women .
A total of 14 countries in the Middle East and Asia have decided not to broadcast the Buzz Lightyear origin film.
But if this situation in the middle of the 2021 century may seem somewhat crazy, we find communications in some cinemas warning in advance that the film has LGTBI scenes.
Are we going backwards in rights?
This media impact with the film Lightyear has not been had by other Disney films such as Bambi , in which a dramatic situation such as the loss of a mother is exposed.
We have also just learned of the decision of the Supreme Court of the United States in relation to abortion. An annulment that allows States to establish their own prohibitions and restrictions.
These types of situations make us wonder if we are really going back in time or in human rights of aspects that we had already left behind.
The report on hate crimes in Spain places incidents that have to do with the victim’s sexual orientation and/or gender expression at the top of the ranking, ahead of racism or xenophobia.
What happens in the LGBTI world? The acronym LGTBI designates Lesbian, Gay, Trans, Bisexual and Intersex people.
When we talk about LGTBIphobia we refer to the rejection, fear, repudiation, prejudice or discrimination towards women or men who recognize themselves as LGTBI.
In the Community of Madrid, an adequate regulatory framework was established to guarantee the right of every person not to be discriminated against on the basis of their sexual orientation or gender identity and/or expression.
The Comprehensive Protection Law against LGTBIphobia and discrimination based on sexual orientation and identity in the Community of Madrid joins the numerous regional laws drawn up in our country to guarantee the rights of LGTBI people.
All people, regardless of their sexual orientation, sexual diversity or gender identity, have the right to equal treatment before the law and the right to be protected against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
Since 2002, the Community of Madrid has had a Public Assistance Service for LGTBI people. This program provides guidance , psychological , social and legal information to these groups.
It is a cutting-edge and innovative program of collaboration between the Public Administration and civil society dedicated to carrying out actions of a training, informative, advisory and awareness-raising nature.
They are aimed at both professionals and the population as a whole, and their purpose is to provide comprehensive and specialized care for both homosexual and transsexual people and their family and relationship environments, through the intervention of a multiprofessional team that acts in the social, psychological, legal, awareness and training areas.
What to do if you are attacked?
If they attack you, threaten you or cause any damage to you or to your belongings or property and they do so because of your sexual orientation or because of your gender identity or expression, you are being the victim of an act that qualifies as a hate crime .
First, it would be to call 112 to take care of any physical aggression that may have occurred to you, then notify the police so that they can investigate and take a statement.
If the aggressors have left, or you have to go to a health center, you can file the complaint the next day or later. It is important to denounce to make this social problem visible and row all towards the same port.
The Agency for Fundamental Rights of the European Union reflected that in 2019 only 21% of people who are victims of a physical or sexual attack for being LGTBI had reported to the Police or to some organization.
The Autonomous Communities have observatory centers focused on this type of crime that you can easily find where you can find help, support and advice to deal with this type of situation in the safest way.
Bibliographic references
Agency for Fundamental Rights of the European Union. 2019. A long way to go for LGTBI equality. https://fra.europa.eu/sites/default/files/fra_uploads/fra-2020-lgbti-equality-1_en.pdf
Madrid Observatory against homophobia, transphobia, biphobia. 2022. Resources. https://contraelodio.org/wp/recursos/
Ministry of Equality. 2021. Quick guide for victims of hate crimes due to LGTBIphobia. https://www.igualdad.gob.es/ministerio/dglgtbi/Documents/Guia_Breve_Victimas_Delitos_de_Odio_LGTBIfobicos.pdf
