| Description |
Discriminatory practices and hate crimes against members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual and Transgendered (LGBT) community runs as deep as societies themselves. Throughout history the social roles that various segments of the LGBT community have been both highly regarded as well as despised in human history. LGBT people frequently face violence due to their sexuality or gender identity. Violence against this community can come from the state in the form of laws stipulating corporal punishment for homosexual acts or by individuals engaging in intimidation, mobbing, assault, or lynching. The violence may be directed at people because of their perceived sexuality can be psychological or physical and can extend to murder. Those who participate in such behavior may be motivated by homophobia, lesbophobia, biphobia, transphobia, and may be influenced by cultural, religious, or political mores and biases. Many times it is in the form of hate speech directed at LGBT people as well as depictions of LGBT people in the media that reinforce negative stereotypes. The violence that is directed toward the LGBT community ranges from stares, discriminatory statements regarding their family, friends or lovers, all the way up to murder by extreme brutality. |
