Not a single hate crime should go unreported, is the message from Manchester’s LGBT community chiefs ahead of the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia.
And to achieve the bold aim, The Lesbian and Gay Foundation are launching a hate crime reporting app to make it easier for victims to report incidents.
Manchester will play host to the annual International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT) on May 17, in a bid to raise awareness of hate crime against LGBT people.
The date is significant as May 17 marks the day that the World Health Organisation removed homosexuality from its list of mental disorders in 1990.
This year The Lesbian and Gay Foundation have planned a number of ways to mark the day, fight prejudice and encourage the reporting of hate crimes across Manchester and the North West.
Darren Knight, Head of Policy and Engagement for the LGF, said: “We’ve achieved so much in terms of legislation and the way that lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people are treated here in the UK, but every day we continue to provide advice, information and support to people who are bullied, who have been terrorised, who live in fear or need specific support as a result of the discrimination that they’ve faced for being lesbian, gay, bisexual or trans.”
The new hate crime reporting web-app will allow people to report incidents quickly and anonymously if needed and is expected to be launched in time for IDAHOBIT.
Mr Knight told MM: “Sometimes people don’t even recognise a hate crime, somebody walking down the street being called a faggot, or other names or even get punched, sometimes they don’t recognise that they’ve experienced a hate crime.
“For some people it’s what they expect, what they’ve had all their lives so some people don’t realise that it is something that should be reported and something they shouldn’t have to accept.”
He added: “We are trying to do what can, to improve the number of people who come forward, and make it as easy as possible for people to come forward because we think that every single incident of hate crime should be reported.”
Rainbow flags will be sold with a suggested donation of £5 and people businesses are encouraged to buy and proudly fly them in support of the community over the weekend.
The village bakers are going to be cooking up something fabulous for the event and the people of Manchester are being asked to rise to the occasion by baking a cake with all the colours of the rainbow and posting it on social media.
Mr Knight said: “We didn’t want our activities to be half baked, so we dreamt up something tasty and thought that the best thing to do was share it with others.
“It’s all about being creative, so get involved, show us what you’ve done and share it to raise awareness of homophobia, biphobia and transphobia and do your bit to bake the rainbow and share the rainbow.”
A Hate Crime Vigil will also take place in Sackville Gardens on May 17 from 5pm, there will be guests speakers from the local community and time to reflect on the victims on hate crime across the city.
Ahead of IDAHOBIT, people are being asked to support those who have been victims of hate crime by texting ‘FLAG14’ and the amount you wish to donate to 70070 or visiting www.lgf.org.uk/donate/
