What is a hate crime?
A hate crime is a criminal offence which is motivated by prejudice towards a person’s actual or perceived race, religion, disability, sexual orientation, or transgender identity. For example, if someone was physically assaulted for being trans, it would be a hate crime.
The following types of incident are crimes and if motivated by transphobia, would be transphobic hate crimes:
- physical assault
- incitement to hatred
- verbal abuse in public
- harassment
- online abuse or harassment
- blackmail
What is a hate incident?
A hate incident is an act of hostility which is motivated by prejudice towards a person’s actual or perceived race, religion, disability, sexual orientation, or transgender identity. A hate incident may not in itself constitute a hate crime. However if you experience a number of hate incidents at the hand of one individual then that would constitute harassment, which is a crime.
What should I do if I am a victim of a transphobic hate incident or hate crime?
1. Make sure you are safe.
2. Keep evidence of the incident and make a record of what has happened. If you are being harassed or blackmailed, keep a diary of every incident.
3. Report the incident to the police or to Galop.
Where can I find more information and support around transphobic hate crime?
Galop is the UK’s LGBT+ anti-violence charity and they have a wealth of information on hate crime. They can also support you if you have been a victim of a hate incident or hate crime.