Homophobia is a "respectable and acceptable prejudice" in Northern Ireland, according to a new report launched last night to mark Gay Pride week in Belfast, writes Suzanne Breen
Eighty-two per cent of gays and lesbians have experienced harassment and 55 per cent have suffered violence, according to the survey which said the level of incidents was higher than in Britain.
Titled An Acceptable Prejudice? - Homophobic Violence and Harassment in Northern Ireland, the report stated that while sectarianism and racism were increasingly frowned upon in the North, this was not the case for homophobia.
The most common form of harassment was verbal abuse which had been experienced by 71 per cent of respondents, the report said.
Other common experiences were being followed on foot (27 per cent); subjected to graffiti (19 per cent); offensive phone calls (18 per cent); being followed by car (16 per cent); having property vandalised (16 per cent); receiving hate mail (seven per cent); and being blackmailed (7 per cent).
The most common forms of violence were being the target of a missile (35 per cent); assaulted (30 per cent) and being spat at (18 per cent). Five gay men have been killed in the North in the past six years.
The most common place to experience harassment was in the street but many people were also targeted outside a gay club or bar or in or near their home. The perpetrators were stereotypically young males in their late teens and 20s. In over 80 per cent of cases the perpetrator was acting with other young males. Only 42 per cent of victims reported the incident to the police.
The report was conducted by the Institute for Conflict Research and was funded by the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister. A total of 186 gay men and lesbians were interviewed. The survey suggested a campaign to raise awareness about homophobia. A task force might be created to develop policy recommendations. The report suggested homophobia be included with sectarianism and racism in any hate crime legislation.
According to police statistics, 52 per cent of homophobic incidents occurred in Belfast and 18 per cent in Derry. Cases were recorded in all counties except Fermanagh.
Mr Neil Jarman, of the Institute for Conflict Research, said it was "not all gloom and doom" for gays and lesbians in the North who were "increasingly visible" and had more clubs, bars and other social venues than ever.
A separate report by the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, also launched to mark Gay Pride week, focused on the experiences of young lesbians and gay people. Learning to Grow Up stated that Northern society was "particularly oppressive" in relation to gay lifestyles.