A worrying new report has revealed transgender people face endemic levels of discrimination and abuse in modern Britain.
Research by LGBT charity Stonewall found that hate crime and discrimination against trans people is “widespread”.
Stonewall is now calling for a full review into hate crime legislation.
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According to the research, which surveyed 871 trans and non-binary people in the UK, 41 per cent of trans people were victims of hate crime due to their gender identity in the last 12 months.
That figure rises to 53 per cent among trans people aged 18 to 24.
Shockingly, one in eight had been physically attacked in the workplace, either by a colleague or a customer.
As well as discrimination at work, 25 per cent of trans people reported that they had faced discrimination when house hunting, while 34 per cent had been discriminated against in public spaces such as cafes, restaurants or bars.
Nearly half (48 per cent) admitted they avoid using public toilets because they fear being harassed or discriminated against.
Fear and ignorance
Trans people are twice as likely to be discriminated against compared to gay, lesbian or bisexual people who are not trans, with Stonewall reporting that one in five LGBT people overall have experienced a hate crime in the past year.
The YouGov report also found that 79 per cent of trans people did not report their hate crime due to fear of further discrimination or lack of support.
The National Police Chief’s Council (NPCC) told The Independent it was working to develop a new national hate crime training programme for frontline officers and call handlers, which would include transgender issues.
“Traditionally, transphobic hate crimes have been significantly under-reported but we are working closely with trans groups to build confidence and trust in the police,” Assistant Chief Constable Julie Cooke, the NPCC’s lead for LGBT issues, said.
“However, there’s always more that can be done. Better knowledge is key as we continue to challenge hate and reduce the harm it causes.”
Two in five also said that when accessing health care they found that professionals often lacked understanding of trans health requirements.
Willow, 40, explained that although they were happy to see the incredible progression in the fight for trans equality, the transphobia becoming more prominent in the media was having a detrimental effect on their mental health.
“Even just five years ago it was not safe for me to come out as trans, the pace of change has been amazing.
“Unfortunately, there now appears to be a backlash against that progress in the last year with hate from the media against trans increasing disturbingly in the last six months.
“This increasing transphobia is accelerating and is causing acute anxiety in my daily life,” they said.
Esme, a 32-year-old trans person from Scotland, explained how the abuse impacts on their day-to-day life.
“We are constantly questioned on our existence, treated hostilely and ridiculed in the name of debate,” Esme said.
“We are constantly exposed to hate and criticism in the media and daily life as the public respond to the media’s attitudes. I’m sick of being described as a mentally ill freak.”