In the last three years, hate crimes due to sexual orientation have increased by 69%, while hate crimes against transgender people have surged by 115%.
There are serious concerns that the Prime Minister’s anti-trans rhetoric will encourage further action against the community.
Transgender hate crimes have surged by 11% nationally in the past twelve months, and Manchester Pride strongly condemns Sunak’s views. Manchester Pride has warned that this stark reality underscores the need for urgent action to ensure inclusivity, equality, and unwavering respect for all individuals, irrespective of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
As part of their I Choose Kindness campaign and National Hate Crime Awareness Week, Manchester Pride has produced a short film to tackle the ongoing issue of hate crimes against the LGBTQ+ community.
The message encourages people to ‘choose kindness’.
I Choose Kindness opens with remarks from ex-Prime Minister David Cameron championing the UK as the “best place in Europe to be LGBTQ+”, which strongly contrasts with remarks about trans people made by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
The film showcases real-life victims of hate crimes and highlights the violence, abuse and intimidation faced by LGBTQ+ people. The message encourages people to ‘choose kindness’ and show each other compassion so we all feel safe to be our true selves.
“Nobody should be subject to verbal abuse, violent behaviour, physical attacks, or blackmail, especially not because of their sexual orientation or gender.” – Mark Fletcher, CEO, Manchester Pride.
More info on I Choose Kindness: www.manchesterpride.com/I-Choose-Kindness
