Homophobic and transphobic harassment

What is homophobic and transphobic harassment?

Southampton City Council has adopted the following definition –
‘Homophobia and transphobia is fear or hatred for anyone who is, or appears to be, lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. A homophobic or transphobic incident is any incident that is perceived to be homophobic or transphobic by the victim or any other person’
– Southampton Hidden Targets Multi-Agency Group, June 2002

For the purposes of the hate crime and harassment strategy:
• the term ‘homophobia’ is a fear or hatred of lesbian, gay or bisexual people
• the term ‘transphobia’ is fear or hatred of people who have undergone, or are undergoing, gender reassignment, or who dress in a manner associated with a gender other than that of their birth gender.

Hidden Targets Group

Research carried out by the Gay Community Health Service in 2001 identified the needs of those experiencing homophobic and transphobic harassment in Southampton. The result of this was the Hidden Targets Report and the formation of the Hidden Targets Group to take forward the recommendations of the report.

The hidden targets group meet every quarter to progress action on this issue. They have produced an updated report and continue to carry out work to improve the City's response to harassment of this kind.

The group continue to deliver training for key workers around the issues of sexual diversity, gender identity and harassment and have also produced a 'credit card' sized information card for people who experience homophobic or transphobic harassment.

For general information about hidden targets contact Dan Stock, the group’s chair on 023 8051 5238 or the Stronger Communities and Equalities Team at communities.equalities@southampton.gov.uk

More information

There are a number or organisations you can contact for advice and support on homophobic and transphobic harassment and some useful telephone numbers are here below. Also see the links on the right hand side.

• Breakout Youth Project: 023 8022 3344

• Gay Community Health Service: 023 8051 5238

• Lesbian and Gay Switchboard - 020 7837 7324

• Mayflower Society (Transgender Issues): 023 8077 1798

• Southampton Police Lesbian and Gay Liaison Officers (LAGLO's): 023 8067 4198

• Victim Support Southampton: 023 8084 1924