Nearly 7 out of 10 people in the LGBTQ+ community say they have been subjected to a hate crime because of their sexual orientation or transgender status in the last year. hat’s according to the results of a new study highlighting the rise in hate crimes and hate incidents.
Around 1 in 4 respondents said they had suffered physical injury from a hate-fuelled attack and 65% reported being verbally abused or ridiculed. 75% of victims said they had never reported a hate crime to the police because they felt the incident was too minor or because they did not trust the police to take it seriously or do anything about it.
The research coincides with the launch of Zoteria, a new app created by the Vodafone Foundation which offers help and advice to people affected by hate crime and makes it easier for them to report incidents. Home Office figures show the prevalence of homophobic, biphobic and transphobic hate crime doubled between 2016 and 2021.
Figures from UK police forces show a 32% increase in reported homophobic and biphobic hate incidents - and a 56% increase in reported transphobic hate incidents - compared to last year.
A hate incident is defined as any act, which may or may not be a crime, that the victim or any other person perceives to be motivated by hostility or prejudice towards an aspect of a person’s identity. It could include (but is not limited to) verbal abuse, harassment, physical attacks, threats of violence and online abuse.
The new study from Vodafone also showed that people outside the LBGTQ+ community have limited knowledge of the problem or how to deal with it. Almost half (49%) of those surveyed were not sure what constituted an LGBTQ+ hate crime and more than a quarter (28%) admitted they wouldn’t know what to do if they did witness such an incident. More than half (53%) of those surveyed who had witnessed an LGBTQ+ hate crime hadn’t reported it.
Zoteria enables people to report hate crime incidents, either against themselves or on behalf of someone else, and access support from LGBTQ+ charities. It also aims to improve the reporting of trends relating to LGBTQ+ hate crime, and so build a more accurate picture of the issue across the UK.
The idea for Zoteria came from a global competition at Vodafone which asked employees to create a tech solution for a social issue close to their hearts. The winning team, led by employee Marta Lima, 29, from London, chose to tackle LGBTQ+ hate crime.
Marta, a computer engineer, said: “As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, I’m very aware of how frequent hate crime incidents are. It’s happened to me, and every person I know from the community has a story. Often people don’t know their rights, don't think they will be taken seriously, nor that reporting an incident matters. But data is key to driving change. We wanted to create an app that encourages the community and its allies to step up, come together and be empowered, by making it easy to flag incidents both as a victim or as a bystander.”
Zoteria enables anyone to report hate incidents directly to LGBTQ+ support charities in a confidential way, either for themselves or on behalf of someone else. For app users who would like support, Galop, the UK’s LGBT+ anti-abuse charity, will reach out and provide a safe space to talk.
As well as helping anyone impacted to get the support they need, Zoteria also aims to improve the data gathered on LGBTQ+ hate incidents. Anonymised regional and city data will be available to local authorities so they can better understand the issue within their region. Data will also help highlight the issues faced by LGBTQ+ people from ethnic minorities.
The app also provides access to other vital support services, including LGBTQ+ advice, mental health and sexual health services, and to information on local LGBTQ+ events to help people stay connected with their local communities.
Leanne Wood, Trustee of Vodafone Foundation and Group Chief HR Officer, said: “I’m proud Vodafone Foundation has supported the development of Zoteria, working with our LGBTQ+ employee networks and leading partners to create an app that will help anyone impacted by hate crime get the help and support they need. We want everyone, in society and our workplace, to be themselves and belong. By working together, we can tackle LGBTQ+ hate incidents and make our communities safer for all. Please download the app now, and if you see or experience LGBTQ+ hate crime, flag it with Zoteria.”
Leni Morris, CEO of Galop, said: “Galop has been supporting LGBTQ+ victims of hate crime for decades, and we know that the official figures only represent a small proportion of what our community experiences on a daily basis in the UK. Zoteria will link LGBTQ+ people who need support directly to our services, run by LGBTQ+ people. This app, alongside our other work, including the National LGBT+ Hate Crime Helpline, helps get us a bit closer to a future where all LGBTQ+ people in the UK have access to specialist support in the wake of abuse and violence.”
Nancy Kelley, Chief Executive of Stonewall said: “We’re incredibly proud to be partnering with Vodafone and Galop on Zoteria. We imagine a world where all LGBTQ+ people are free to be ourselves and feel safe in our communities. That takes all of us playing our part in reporting hate and making sure victims get the support they need. We are calling on LGBTQ+ people and allies to download the app, support our communities and help us advocate for change.”
Zoteria is the latest in Vodafone Foundation’s ‘Apps Against Abuse’ portfolio, including Bright Sky which provides support to those exposed to domestic abuse. For over 10 years, Vodafone Foundation has used technology to connect over 1.5 million people affected by domestic abuse to advice, support, and education.
Zoteria is available to download in the UK, for free, on Apple App store and Google Play Store.
