Posted by Wayves volunteeer 16/07/2013
EGALE DEMANDS ACTION FROM EDUCATION MINISTERS TO END VIOLENCE AND HATE CRIME AGAINST LGBTQ YOUTH
By Helen Kennedy, Egale Canada
Every year Statistics Canada releases updated data on police-reported hate crimes in Canada, and every year we see an increase in anti-gay and anti-lesbian hate crime. This year is no different, as once again hate crimes motivated by sexual orientation increased by 10% in 2011, while crimes motivated by all other factors declined.
“When is Canada going to wake up to the fact that there is still work to do post-marriage, and the place to start is in our schools?” declared Helen Kennedy, Executive Director of Egale Canada Human Rights Trust. “When hate crimes motivated by sexual orientation are consistently increasing, consistently the most violent in nature, and consistently focused among our youth, it is ludicrous to say that we don’t need to address homophobia, biphobia and transphobia in our schools.”
In 2011, hate crimes motivated by sexual orientation had the highest proportion of accused who were male (92%) as well as the highest proportion of accused who were under age 25 (70%). Similarly, victims of sexual-orientation-motivated hate crime tended to be younger, with 50% under age 25, and had the highest proportion of male victims at 85%.
“Every single Minister of Education in this country needs to take these number very seriously,” continued Kennedy. “Until we implement explicit policies and programs to address homophobia, biphobia and transphobia in every region of this country, we cannot begin to hope to end the violence, harassment and hate crime that our LGBTQ youth have come to see as a fact of life.”
While Statistics Canada reports on hate crimes motivated by sexual orientation, it does not provide information on hate crimes against trans and gender variant people because ‘gender identity’ has not yet been included within the hate crime provisions of the Criminal Code. A private member’s bill currently before the Senate, Bill C-279, would address this omission. “This report says nothing about the violence and hatred faced by trans and gender variant people in Canada,” said Kennedy. “Yet we know that they represent one of the most targeted communities in this country. It’s time for the Senate to take a stand and bring the Gender Identity Bill to a vote as soon as they return from summer recess. Bill C-279 must become law.”
Egale Canada Human Rights Trust (ECHRT) is Canada’s only national charity promoting LGBT human rights through research, education and community engagement.
Helen Kennedy, Executive Director, Egale Canada
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Police-Reported Hate Crime in Canada, 2011
Rates: Overall, hate crime decreased by 5% in 2011:
- 4% decrease in hate crimes motivated by race or ethnicity;
- 17% decrease in hate crimes motivated by religion;
- 10% increase in hate crimes motivated by sexual orientation, representing 18% of all hate crime in Canada.
Violence: The most likely hate crimes to involve violent offences were those motivated by sexual orientation (65%) or race/ethnicity (41%). Victims of sexual-orientation-related hate crimes were the most likely to report any physical injuries at (49%).
Accused: Among all persons accused of hate crimes in 2011, 88% were male, and 60% were under age 25. Hate crimes motivated by sexual orientation had the highest proportion of accused who were male (92%) as well as the highest proportion of accused who were under age 25 (70%).
Victims: Among all victims of hate crimes in 2011, 41% were under the age of 25.
Victims of sexual-orientation-motivated hate crime tended to be younger, with 50% under age 25. Incidents motivated by sexual orientation had the highest proportion of male victims at 85%.
Source: Allen, Mary, and Jillian Boyce. “Police-reported Hate Crime in Canada, 2011.” Juristat (July 11, 2013).
Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia in Canadian Schools
Almost two thirds (64%) of LGBTQ students and 61% of students with LGBTQ parents reported that they feel unsafe at school. 78% of trans students feel unsafe at school, with:
- 44% having missed school because of these feelings.21% of LGBTQ students reported being physically harassed or assaulted due to their sexual orientation.37% of trans students;
- 21% of sexual minority (LGB) students and 10% of non-LGBTQ students reported being physically harassed or assaulted because of their gender expression;
- 49% of trans students have been sexually harassed in school within the past year
- 74% of trans students have been verbally harassed because of their gender expression;
- 30% of sexual minority female;
- 24% of sexual minority male and 40% of trans students were unaware of a single member of school staff who were supportive of LGBTQ students.
Source: Taylor, C., T. Peter, T.L. McMinn, T. Elliott, S. Beldom, A. Ferry, Z. Gross, S. Paquin, and K. Schachter. Every Class in Every School: The First National Climate Survey on Homophobia, Biphobia, and Transphobia in Canadian Schools. Final Report. Toronto, ON: Egale Canada Human Rights Trust, 2011.
Egale Canada is Canada’s LGBT human rights organization: advancing equality, diversity, education, and justice. Support our work: become a member or renew your membership for 2013.
Égale Canada est l’organisme national de défense des droits des personnes LGBT, voué à la promotion de l’égalité, de la diversité, de l’éducation et de la justice. Soutenez-nous : devenez membre ou renouvelez votre adhésion pour l’année 2012.
