OFMDFM commissioned research
The report14 ‘An Acceptable Prejudice’, commissioned by OFMDFM, on
homophobic violence in Northern Ireland notes that LGB15 communities in
Northern Ireland are becoming increasingly visible, and that a small body of
literature documenting the experiences of LGB communities has appeared.
This literature both attempts to define a distinct and separate identity for LGB
communities, and to highlight social, legal, and other issues of concern to
these communities. The report also notes that the higher public profile of LGB
communities relates largely to Belfast and Derry, and that people living in rural
areas can continue to feel isolated and vulnerable. This increasing public
profile has also made people more vulnerable to attacks and other forms of
hostile behaviour.
The aim of the research was to document the scale, form and nature of
homophobic violence in Northern Ireland, as part of a wider project looking at
hate crimes or ‘representative violence’ i.e. attacks or harassment against
people simply because they belong or are perceived to belong to a particular
community. The research drew on a range of sources of information,
including: police records; surveys carried out in England, Scotland, and
Ireland; and surveys and interviews conducted in Northern Ireland.
The research suggests that homophobia remains widespread in Northern
Ireland, and also that there is an increasing need for a diverse range of
support services and agencies, as well as safe social provision.