A new report by ILGA Europe – exploring data from the Fundamental Rights Agency – shows that LGBTI persons with disabilities face the highest levels of violence and harassment. Specifically, intersex people, trans women and non-binary people with disabilities experience particularly high rates of harassment. Discrimination is also rife: trans individuals, ethnic minorities, and trans women with disabilities face the highest levels of discrimination reported in the survey.
LGBTI persons with disabilities also face disproportionate barriers in accessing healthcare, including being subject to inappropriate comments.
The report is part of the “Intersections” series and was produced in collaboration with the European Disability Forum.
Key findings include:
- LGBTI people with disabilities face higher levels of harassment and violence compared to all respondents.
- Intersex people, trans women and non-binary people with disabilities experience particularly high rates of harassment, including offensive comments in person and online. They are more likely to be exposed to physical and sexual attacks, with almost half of the attacks involving a sexual component. Perpetrators of violence vary depending on the group, with family members, acquaintances, neighbours, and public servants being reported as common perpetrators.
- Trans individuals, ethnic minorities, and trans women with disabilities faced the highest levels of discrimination unveiled by the survey. Discrimination persisted regardless of individuals’ openness about their sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and sex characteristic.
- LGBTI persons with disabilities encountered barriers in accessing healthcare services, with trans women, intersex and non-binary individuals facing the highest levels of difficulty. They also reported higher rates of inappropriate curiosity or comments from healthcare providers.
The report paints a stark picture of the situation of LGBTI persons with disabilities. ILGA-Europe and the European Disability Forum call on States and Institutions to:
- Systematically collect disaggregated equality data that includes sexual orientation, gender identity and expression and sex characteristics in relation to disability, socioeconomic status, discrimination and violence.
- Increase the visibility of LGBTI persons with disabilities and address the policy gaps they face, including in the implementation of the EU LGBTIQ Equality Strategy and the EU Strategy on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, as well as in the implementation of national equality strategies.
- Work closely with LGBTI persons with disabilities and organisations representing them in the development of laws and policies that concern them.
You can find the full report on the ILGA Europe’s website.