During a demonstration to call the feminist strike movement on Women’s Rights Day, March 6, 2021. BERTRAND GUAY / AFP
Is this a reflection of increasing violence against sexual minorities, or is it the result of freedom of expression from victims who are more apt to push open the doors of police stations and brigades? Also this year the number of anti-LGBT actions published on Monday 16 May by the Ministerial Statistical Service for Internal Security is experiencing a sharp increase. Thus, in 2021, 3,790 attacks “based on sexual orientation or gender identity” were registered by police and gendarmerie, compared to 2,970 in 2020, an increase of 27.6%.
These include 2,170 criminal and administrative offenses (+ 28%) and 1,620 fines (+ 16%). Slander and insults come first, followed by physical attacks. According to this official data, public space in the broadest sense is the first place where LGBT phobia is expressed. However, as a result of the recent lockdown that put people in their homes, more fact-finding took place indoors (24% compared to 20% before the health crisis). Men are the main targets of crimes and misdemeanors, with young people being over-represented among victims.
Acceptance on the one hand, rejection on the other
The number of anti-LGBT acts has doubled since 2016, the first year of separately publishing figures on reports received of felonies, misdemeanors and offenses compounded by a discriminatory motive based on sexual orientation and gender identity. According to the Interior Ministry services, an average increase of about 15% per year has been recorded. “I can’t believe that the number of facts isn’t really increasing,” responds Sophie Elizéon, interministerial delegate for the fight against racism, anti-Semitism and anti-LGBT hatred. As opinion polls show, we are certainly in a better acceptance of society, but at the same time, LGBT-phobic people are becoming more and more virulent, vengeful. you act. »
A double movement confirmed by all observers. For Flora Bolter, co-president of the Jean Jaurès Foundation’s LGBT+ Observatory, “we went from rejection to rejection”. Equality mobilizations that have led to recent legislative gains (Same-Sex Marriage Authorization Act, PMA for All Women) “have opened the door to more LGBT representation and, consequently, more expressions of opposition,” she points out.
You have 60.61% of this article left to read. The following is for subscribers only.