Threats of violence, intimidating behaviour, online abuse and hateful comments shouted in the street.
That’s just a handful of the hate incidents regularly faced by Cleveland’s LGBTQ+ community, according to charity Hart Gables.
One young trans woman was attacked and verbally abused as she walked home from work in Middlesbrough.
She wasn’t going to complete an online police report for fear that she would be seen as “overreacting” or “too sensitive.”
Currently, she’s rebuilding her confidence thanks to emotional support from Hart Gables, with a view to eventually report her attack to police.
Now Hart Gables has a little extra help to support victims of hate crime, thanks to funding from Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Matt Storey.
The ‘Thrive Beyond Hate’ project offers one-to-one and group support to victims of LGBTQ+ hate.
Funded by £12,384 from the PCC’s Protect and Support Fund, sessions support people whose wellbeing has been impacted by hate crime.
In addition to support, staff help victims to record incidents – even when they don’t meet the hate crime threshold.
That means Hart Gables can later share anonymous data with partners, like the PCC, to help get a better picture of anti-LGBTQ+ hate across Teesside.
Monthly group sessions are also available, as a chance for LGBTQ+ people to get together to share their experiences and access peer support.
Andrew Towers, Hart Gables’ LGBTQ+ Development Worker, said:
“At a time when hostility towards minority groups is increasing and the UK is falling in the ILGA rankings for LGBTQ+ safety, this project is more important than ever.
“Already, Thrive Beyond Hate has supported more than 20 people who may not otherwise have felt able to report hate or hostility to the police or access mainstream services.
“Through practical, emotional and peer support, the project has helped people feel seen, heard and valued.
“It means a great deal to know that the PCC is committed to the safety and wellbeing of the LGBTQ+ community.”
In the past year, Hart Gables has worked with more than 500 people and supported 43 of them after they experienced hate or hostility due to their LGBTQ+ identity.
Hart Gables anticipates more transgender and non-binary people will seek support from the project, after noting a rise in negative media attention directed at the transgender community in recent years. This comes alongside an increasing number of trans and non-binary people sharing their experiences with Hart Gables.
Cleveland PCC Matt Storey said: “Having visited Hart Gables, I can see how important it is to have a project like Thrive Beyond Hate.
“Projects delivered by in familiar, trusted organisations like Hart Gables allow people who have experienced hate crime, to open up about their experiences, recover their confidence and rebuild their lives.
“With support, I’m hoping that more victims will start to report hate crime incidents so we can then target help, where it is needed most.”