Insults and assaults homophobic or transphobic knew a push of 36% last year in France, symbol of the strong "anchoring" of homophobia in the country according to the Ministry of the Interior.

A new leap that comes after a year 2018 already presented as a "black" year by associations with an unequaled level of physical aggression towards LGBT people (lesbians, gays, bis, trans).

Last year, the police and gendarmerie forces "identified 1,870 victims of homophobic or transphobic crimes against 1,380 in 2018", representing a "36% increase in the number of victims of anti-LGBT acts "the ministry said in a statement.

Insults and contempt represent 33% of the offenses suffered, while violence (physical and sexual) concerns 28% of the complaints. The victims are mainly men (75%), rather young: 62% are under 35 years of age.

"These figures testify to the deep anchoring of homophobia and transphobia in society" and "are part of a broader context of progression of hate acts and identity extremism", commented the ministry.

Crimes and offenses on the rise

These new figures published by the Ministry of the Interior draw a continuous increase in these crimes and offenses, on the eve of the world day of fight against homophobia and transphobia and 30 years after the withdrawal of homosexuality from the list of mental illnesses by the World Health Organization (WHO).

These statistics are however each year out of step with reality, associations supporting LGBT people regularly recalling that many victims do not dare to complain. On Monday, the figures from the SOS Homophobia association, which had alerted last year about the upsurge in physical assaults, should also be published.

"The typology of the victims is interesting, because we are mostly on men, rather young, which poses the question perhaps of visibility", reacted to AFP, Frédéric Potier, interministerial delegate for the fight against anti-Semitism racism and anti-LGBT hatred (Dilcrah).

 "Big cities, not refuges"

Furthermore, "big cities do not appear as refuges, contrary to what one might think, since 36% of complaints are registered there". "It also says, hollow, that there is homophobia throughout the country, including in rural areas," he continued.

In 2019, it was also the sports world and in particular the soccer world which was shaken by accusations of homophobia. Several matches in the first and second divisions were briefly interrupted due to homophobic chants from the stands or the display of abusive banners.

The Interior Ministry, which called on Saturday for "increased vigilance by the public authorities and a stronger mobilization of the whole society", recorded around thirty complaints after insults or threats uttered on the internet.

 In this area, at the end of a long chaotic journey, the Parliament adopted definitively Wednesday the law proposal of the deputy LREM Laetitia Avia against hate online.

This text will compel, from July, the platforms and search engines to remove within 24 hours the content "manifestly" illicit, under penalty of "fines up to 1.25 million euros. Are targeted incentives to the hatred, violence, insults of a racist or religious nature.

Faced with the increased risk of domestic violence during confinement, the government also released 300,000 euros in late April for an "emergency plan" to finance hotel nights for LGBT people in difficulty. It is now "fully operational and benefits about forty young LGBT people," said the press release.

An application was also launched at the end of April by FLAG !, the association of LGBT police and gendarmes, in order to report acts of violence and better orient the victims.

With AFP

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