A report examined national regulation of discrimination outside the field of employment on the grounds of religion and belief, disability, age, and sexual orientation, in the 28 European Union member states and the accession candidate countries (FYR of Macedonia, Iceland and Turkey) and the EEA countries (Liechtenstein and Norway). It said that there was much existing regulation of discrimination beyond the scope of Council Directive 2000/78/EC, but measures differed between the countries in both scope and methodology.
Source: Aileen McColgan, National protection beyond the two EU Anti-discrimination Directives: The grounds of religion and belief, disability, age and sexual orientation beyond employment, European Commission
Links: Report
Date: 2013-Dec
A report for a trade union examined the impact of central government funding cuts ('austerity cuts') on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people and the services that they used. The report said that it was sometimes difficult to attribute issues directly to austerity measures and to isolate the effects of austerity cuts from ever-present phobias and discriminations. The report said that LGBT people had experienced: financial hardships (redundancies, real term pay cuts, changes to benefit rules); difficulty in finding safe, LGBT-friendly accommodation; reductions in sexual health and mental health services that met their specific needs; and cuts in support services. It noted a need for public funding to secure services that might not be funded elsewhere, and made recommendations for trade union support.
Source: Martin Mitchell, Kelsey Beninger, Nilufer Rahim, and Sue Arthur, Implications of Austerity for LGBT People and Services, National Centre for Social Research
Links: Report | Summary | UNISON press release
Date: 2013-Dec
An article examined a knowledge exchange project to improve services for older lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans adults. It discussed the generation and measurement of impact, critical issues that arose during the project, and the impact of economic austerity.
Source: Andrew King, 'Prepare for impact? Reflecting on knowledge exchange work to improve services for older LGBT people in times of austerity', Social Policy and Society, Online first
Links: Abstract
Date: 2013-Nov
A new book examined the impact of equalities legislation on the lives and activism of lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people in Brighton, a town on the south coast of England.
Source: Kath Browne and Leela Bakshi, Ordinary in Brighton?: LGBT, activisms and the city, Ashgate Publications
Links: Summary
Date: 2013-Nov
An article examined the management of hate crime in the South West of England, looking at the implementation of hate crime policy across agencies. The research found some good practice and effective multi-agency working, alongside evidence of policy drift both between and within agencies.
Source: Zoe James and Lesley Simmonds, 'Exploring prejudice: managing hate crime in the South West of England', Crime Prevention & Community Safety, Volume 15 Issue 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2013-Oct
A report summarized the key findings from research into hate crime in Wales. It said that hate crime was still a daily reality for many people, devastating individual lives and creating fear and distrust within communities. The prevention of hate crime was a long-term goal that would only be achieved if organizations worked together in partnership to meet this challenge.
Source: Matthew Williams and Jasmin Tregidga, All Wales Hate Crime Research Project, Race Equality First
Links: Report | Welsh Government press release | Cardiff University press release | BBC report
Date: 2013-Sep
A report said that the European Union and its member states were guilty of failing to tackle homophobic and transphobic hate crime. It highlighted gaps in the legislation of many countries where sexual orientation and gender identity were not explicitly included as grounds on which hate crimes could be prosecuted, along with the inadequacy of EU standards on hate crime for tackling homophobic and transphobic violence.
Source: Because of Who I Am: Homophobia, transphobia and hate crimes in Europe, Amnesty International UK
Links: Report | Amnesty press release | Womensgrid report
Date: 2013-Sep
An official advisory body began consultation on whether there was a case for reforming the law so that existing hate crime offences in respect of race and religion should be extended to cover sexual orientation, gender identity, and disability.
Source: Hate Crime: The Case for Extending the Existing Offences, LC213, Law Commission
Links: Consultation document | Summary
Date: 2013-Jun
A new book examined the relationship between changing gender identities and processes of family formation in western countries, including: asexual couples; child-free women and men; 'living apart together' couples; lone mothers and fathers; and homosexual and transsexual parents. It discussed the political implications of these emerging dimensions of family life.
Source: Elisabetta Ruspini, Diversity in Family Life: Gender, relationships and social change, Policy Press
Links: Summary
Date: 2013-Jun
A survey examined how lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender (LGBT) people in the European Union experienced discrimination, harassment, and violence in different areas of life. Almost half (47 per cent) of all respondents said that they had felt personally discriminated against or harassed on the grounds of sexual orientation in the year preceding the survey. A majority of respondents who had been attacked said that the attack or threat of violence happened partly or entirely because they were perceived to be LGBT (59 per cent). Respondents rarely, however, reported discrimination or violence to the authorities, mainly because they believed that nothing would happen or change if they did.
Source: European Union Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Survey, European Agency for Fundamental Rights
Links: Report | FRA press release
Date: 2013-May
An article examined the exclusion of age and gender from hate crime policy.
Source: Hannah Mason-Bish, 'Examining the boundaries of hate crime policy: considering age and gender', Criminal Justice Policy Review, Volume 24 Number 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2013-Apr