A report examined the impact of spending cuts on voluntary and community sector services for lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transsexual (LGBT) people in England and Wales. It said that the sector relied heavily on central and local government for funding, and was therefore particularly vulnerable to the austerity cuts, at the same time as there was an increased demand for services. The report said that cuts had led to a range of impacts on providers, such as: reduced financial reserves; greater competition within the sector for funding; reductions in services and to service levels, and difficulties in forward planning; staff cuts, and casualization of the workforce; and a greater reliance on volunteers.
Source: Fiona Colgan, Chrissy Hunter, and Aidan McKearney, 'Staying Alive': The impact of 'austerity cuts' on the LGBT voluntary and community sector (VCS) in England and Wales, Trades Union Congress/London Metropolitan University
Links: Report | TUC press release
Date: 2014-Sep
A report provided findings from a project that examined hate crime, looking at: people's experiences of hate, prejudice, and targeted hostility; the physical and emotional harms suffered by victims and their families; and ways in which to improve the quality of support offered to victims. A series of briefings were published alongside the main findings, together with a 'manifesto', which set out victim-centred recommendations based on the needs and expectations of those whose lives had been directly affected by hate crime.
Source: The Leicester Hate Crime Project, Findings and Conclusions, University of Leicester
Links: Report | Summary | Victims manifesto | Project
Source: The Leicester Hate Crime Project, Briefing Paper 1: Disablist hate crime, University of Leicester
Links: Paper
Source: The Leicester Hate Crime Project, Briefing Paper 2: Gendered hostility, University of Leicester
Links: Paper
Source: The Leicester Hate Crime Project, Briefing Paper 3: Homophobic hate crime, University of Leicester
Links: Paper
Source: The Leicester Hate Crime Project, Briefing Paper 4: Racist hate crime, University of Leicester
Links: Paper
Source: The Leicester Hate Crime Project, Briefing Paper 5: Religiously motivated hate crime, University of Leicester
Links: Paper
Date: 2014-Sep
An article examined victimization of sexual minority status groups across British Crime Surveys from 2007-2010. It said that these groups were more likely than heterosexuals to be victimized from any and some specific crimes, but people who were bisexual were more consistently victimized than lesbians or gay men.
Source: Bere Mahoney, Michelle Davies, and Laura Scurlock-Evans, 'Victimization among female and male sexual minority status groups: evidence from the British Crime Survey 2007-2010', Journal of Homosexuality, Volume 61 Issue 10
Links: Abstract
Date: 2014-Aug
An article examined the avoidance by trans people of particular situations, with reference to gender identity and stage of transition. It said that there were statistically significant associations between group (gender identity and stage of transition) and the avoidance (or not) of certain situations, and discussed the implications for supporting people through transition.
Source: Sonja Ellis, Jay McNeil, and Louis Bailey, 'Gender, stage of transition and situational avoidance: a UK study of trans people's experiences', Sexual and Relationship Therapy, Volume 29 Issue 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2014-Jun
A report examined the barriers faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in accessing appropriate services for domestic abuse, stalking, harassment, and sexual violence in Wales. It outlined a range of barriers to appropriate support, related to individual circumstances, interpersonal issues (including fear of being inadvertently forced 'out' by the process), and the structure and culture of available services. The report made recommendations for improving access and inclusivity, staff development, monitoring, and further research.
Source: Shannon Harvey, Martin Mitchell, Jasmin Keeble, Carol McNaughton Nicholls, and Nilufer Rahim, Barriers Faced by Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender People in Accessing Domestic Abuse, Stalking, Harassment and Sexual Violence Services, Research Paper 48/2014, Welsh Government
Links: Report | Summary | 1000 Lives Plus press release
Date: 2014-Jun
A report (by an official advisory body) examined whether the two offences under which hate crime was prosecuted could be extended to bring equality of treatment across the five characteristics of disability, gender identity, race, religion, and sexual orientation. The report said that a consultation had revealed strong support for extending the aggravated offences, but also serious concerns from many stakeholders that the existing offences were unnecessarily complex and not working well. The Commission therefore recommended that a review of options should be conducted, but said that, in the absence of support or resources for a review, a less satisfactory solution would be for aggravated offences to be extended to disability, sexual orientation, and transgender identity. With regards to sentencing, the Commission said that the current, enhanced sentencing powers were under-used, partly because the the hostility element of hate crime was not always fully investigated, and the court was not always given the associated evidence. The report made recommendations for clearer sentencing guidance, and for the police national computer records to show where offences were proven to be aggravated by hostility.
Source: Hate Crime: Should the current offences be extended?, LC348, Law Commission
Links: Report | Summary | Consultation responses | Law Commission press release
Date: 2014-May
A report examined ways in which national equality bodies might engage with equality duty bearers (defined as people and organizations that had an explicit legal duty under European Union and national equality legislation). The report outlined the range of EU-wide obligations, considered available engagement tools (such as legal mechanisms, research, training, and dialogue), and discussed issues relating to the choice of the 'right tool'.
Source: Joint Responsibility for Equal Treatment: How equality bodies work with duty bearers, Equinet (European Network of Equality Bodies)
Date: 2014-May
An article examined difficulties in recruitment for research on lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals. It discussed methods of recruitment used by the author and argued for a plurality of recruitment procedures for future research on sexualities and personal relationships.
Source: Mark McCormack, 'Innovative sampling and participant recruitment in sexuality research', Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, Volume 31 Issue 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2014-May
A think-tank report examined the position of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people in relation to social housing, the housing system more generally, and the provision of equitable and fair access to housing resources. The report also considered how austerity and welfare reform in the United Kingdom had affected LGBT communities in recent years. The report said that, although equalities legislation had been introduced, equality under the law did not automatically protect against discriminatory practices, and there was still work to be done. It said that there had been some major advancements of LGBT rights in social housing, although some housing providers were not undertaking any monitoring of LGBT employees, tenants, or applicants, and over half of LGBT respondents reported that housing providers or advisors had not understood their housing needs. It concluded that the role of social landlords in offering more equitable access to housing and services was vital, since LGBT people had been disproportionately affected by austerity and welfare reform, and many had unmet housing need.
Source: Kevin Gulliver and Dawn Prentice, Rainbow Rising? LGBT communities, social housing, equality and austerity, Human City Institute
Links: Report | Inside Housing report
Date: 2014-May
The Northern Ireland Executive began consultation on proposals to publish a Sexual Orientation Strategy and Action Plan with the aim of promoting: an environment free from harassment and bullying; action against homophobia in all forms; and equality of opportunity for lesbian, gay and bisexual people. The consultation would close on 6 June 2014.
Source: Development of a Sexual Orientation Strategy and Action Plan: Consultation document, Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister
Links: Consultation document | BBC report
Date: 2014-Mar
A report examined inequalities and inequities in access to health services in Wales and the United Kingdom that were associated with characteristics of gender, sexual identity, and gender reassignment. While noting many points at which inequalities and inequities arose, the report said that much of the evidence came from small scale studies that raised issues regarding generalization. It recommended a full review across all of the groups protected by the Equalities Act 2010, and for further work to establish existing areas of intervention and good practice.
Source: Deborah Brewis, Review of Evidence of Inequalities in Access to Health Services in Wales and the UK: Gender, gender reassignment, and sexual identity, Social Research Paper 8/2014, Welsh Government
Date: 2014-Feb