To this day, more than half of same-sex couples are scared to hold hands in public, study shows

A new report indicates that over half of LGBTQ+ individuals in the UK avoid holding hands in public due to safety concerns. Research conducted for Stonewall reveals that 56 percent of queer couples refrain from public displays of affection because of potential prejudice. According to ‘MSN’, these findings are part of Stonewall’s Hold My Hand campaign, which urges the government to tackle the increase in LGBTQ+ hate crimes.

A Stonewall spokesperson stated, “Even something as simple as reaching out to hold their partner’s hand now feels unsafe. Everyone deserves to go about their daily lives free from the fear of abuse and harassment, no matter their identities.”

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The campaign follows a 2023 announcement from the Home Office, which reported a 112 percent increase in hate crimes related to sexual orientation in England and Wales over the past five years. During the same period, offences against transgender people surged by 186 percent. Over half of the reported hate crimes were public order offences, 41 percent involved violence, and five percent were classified as criminal damage.

As part of its efforts, Stonewall is calling on the government to classify anti-LGBTQ+ hate crimes as aggravated offences, providing protections similar to those for offences based on religion or race, as recommended by the Law Commission. The organisation also advocates for a hate crime strategy and action plan to address rising numbers and reduce barriers to under-reporting.

Stonewall remarked, “It’s time for MPs to take action to stop the rising hate and challenge the government to make society safer for the LGBTQ+ community.” They encourage LGBTQ+ individuals concerned about increasing hate crimes to email their local MP, urging them to address this pressing issue.

They suggest, “Please personalise this email as much as possible. Tell your MP why this issue matters to you, by including any experiences faced by yourself. And remember to include your postal address for maximum impact.”

According to Stonewall, 584 people have already reached out to their MPs as part of the campaign.

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