In a report published this Wednesday, May 14, the SOS Homophobia association indicates that it has recorded more than 2,000 testimonies from people who are victims of homophobic or transphobic acts. This figure is up almost 40% compared to 2022.
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Beyond these figures, which represent only a tiny part of attacks of this type in France, these are certain trends that worry the association. In particular online hatred, which represents 23% of reports according to SOS Homophobia and the trivialization of anti-LGBT speeches even on television sets. On social networks, disinformation amplifies the phenomenon and contributes to trivializing anti-LGBT+ comments.
This report and this trend worries Julia Torlet, president and spokesperson for SOS Homophobia. “ Disinformation sites or bias in general are increasing. We see this particularly with masculinist movements for example which tend to create absolutely gigantic disinformation and have gained ground in public opinion. “, she explains. This trivialization even extends to certain television sets which contribute to legitimizing certain transphobic speeches, explains Julia Torlet.
21% of recorded cases concern transphobia
“ Trans people exist. This is a fact and it cannot be disputed. However, we will create a debate on the legitimacy of their existence. This is obviously nourished and fueled by the presence in the media of people who will rely most of the time on erroneous information. And therefore create questions which ultimately have no place and which are sometimes absurd “, she specifies.
According to her, there is a “ real emergency » to act because of a “ trivialization of hateful speech and legitimization » of it, particularly in the media, she affirms. Transphobia concerns 21% of cases recorded by SOS Homophobia.
The latter will be “ soon to be voted on », denounces the association. At the end of the month, a right-wing bill will be debated in the Senate. In particular, it plans to prohibit gender transitions for under-18s.
THE ” ambush “, more and more numerous
Last year was also marked “ by the violence, even hyperviolence exercised, overwhelmingly, against cis, gay or bi men or presumed gay or bi ”, with the increasingly important phenomenon of “ ambush », underlines Julia Torlet. Cis men represent 67% of reported physical attacks.
“ Every day, we receive testimonies at SOS Homophobia from people who lose everything after an attack or violence. », notes Julia Torlet, explaining that this can be linked to a psychological shock, a more or less explicit constraint to leave a job, a physical inability to resume an activity, etc.
“ Suffering violence, discrimination, hate speech brings fear, a feeling of guilt, mental distress » and can lead to depression and suicide attempts, continues Ugo Ziccarelli, co-referent of the commission on the annual report. In one in five cases, this unhappiness concerns the family.
Read also“We loved them dead or in the closet”: when France condemned homosexuality