Hate Crime

Image
Despite many folk accepting the LGBT Plus community, there are some people in Dumfries and Galloway who don’t like LGBT people and who treat them badly or unfairly simply because they don’t understand the issues, or they are afraid of folk who are different from them.

LGBT people in D&G are often called names, bullied, left out or even attacked just because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. This kind of prejudice and discrimination (called homophobia, or transphobia for transgender people) makes it hard for many LGBT people to ‘come out’, and leaves them feeling very alone, depressed and frightened.
You don’t have to put up with homophobia, bullying or discrimination!

LGBT people have rights just like everyone else, and the law is designed to protect them from discrimination in most spheres of their lives. Not everyone knows this however, or feels confident enough to stand up for the rights of LGBT people, therefore the Dumfries and Galloway LGBT Centre works hard to educate people about LGBT issues and about difference in general, and to challenge prejudice so that every child, young person and adult can feel safe, respected and included in their local community.

If you have been a victim of a Hate Crime

Crimes committed against someone because of their disability, gender-identity, race, religion or belief, or sexual orientation are hate crimes and should be reported to the police.

Here is the link to Police Scotland’s Online Reporting Form to report if you or someone you know has been a victim of a Hate Crime. You can also make a report if you have witnessed a stranger on the receiving end of a Hate Crime or if you or another has been a victim even though you do not identify under one of the protected characteristics but have been perceived as such by the perpetrator of the crime.

Hate crimes can include:
  • threatening behaviour
  • assault
  • robbery
  • damage to property
  • inciting others to commit hate crimes
  • harassment
Police Scotland also treats homophobia and transphobia crime very seriously and are keen to hear from people who have been the victims of any kind of hate motivated crime.

You can report crimes directly to the police by calling 101, or 999 in an emergency. If you don’t feel confident enough, you can fill our a ‘remote reporting form’ with a member of staff at Dumfries & Galloway LGBT Plus, and we can report it on your behalf. There are also specially identified and trained LGBT Liaison Officers within the Police who you can also speak to if you would prefer.