French government unveils plans to combat rise in anti-LGBTQ+ hate crimes
New measures to tackle anti-gay hate crimes have been presented by France's equality minister, specifically targetting abuse at sporting events and calling for automatic stadium bans for homophobic remarks.
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The proposals call for improved training of police, support for associations, punishing insults at sports stadiums more effectively and including same-sex families in school registration forms.
The 2023 - 2026 plan – which includes around one hundred measures – is a step forward from measures taken to promote equal rights under President Emmanuel Macron's previous five-year term, such as medically assisted reproduction for all, opening up blood donation to gay men and the banning conversion therapies.
Nous lançons un grand plan de formation massif.
— Isabelle Rome (@RomeIsabelle) July 10, 2023
Le but : mieux identifier, mieux prévenir et mieux traiter la haine anti-LGBT+. https://t.co/2FSEXBk81x
According to Isabelle Rome, the Minister for Equality between Women and Men, Diversity and Equal Opportunities, significant progress has been made on a legislative level, however anti-LGBTQ+ acts have actually risen by 129% since 2016.
Rome presented the plan at the SOS Homophobie association earlier this Monday.
Police training
The number of complaints lodged is still marginal: 20% of victims of threats or violence lodge a complaint and only 5% of victims of insults.
In 2022, SOS Homophobie received 1,195 reports of LGBT-phobia in France, an increase of 5% compared to 2021.
The plan places particular emphasis on strengthening the initial and ongoing training of the police and gendarmes
By May 2024, the government aim is to train 100% of the workforce on LGBTQ+ issues.
Isabelle Rome's ministry also stated: "We are going to take stock of local attacks with the aim of stepping up security patrols in the right places at the right time."
En 2022, 1506 témoignages de #LGBTIphobies ont été reçus via nos dispositifs d’écoute. Alors que les violences dans l'espace public reprennent de plus belle, la #transphobie augmente depuis deux ans, particulièrement dans les commerces et administrations#RapportLGBTIphobies2023
— SOS homophobie (@SOShomophobie) May 16, 2023
Fighting homophobia in sport and schools
Some €7 million – in addition to €3 million already announced last August – will be allocated to strengthen and perpetuate support for LGBTQ+ centres across the country.
The plan aims to co-finance the opening of 10 new reception and support centres by 2027.
The proposals also advises that if anyone is convicted of homophobic remarks in a stadium, court judges will be called upon to imposes an additional penalty of a stadium ban as a matter of principle.
Other measures in the plan include more training for health and education professionals in the issues of inclusion and the fight against anti-LGBTQ+ hatred.
The programme specifically targets the fight against LGBT-phobic bullying at school, with the introduction of councillors in secondary schools.
It will also allow the use of inclusive forms so that pupils who are the children of same-sex couples can indicate two fathers or two mothers as their legal representatives.
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