IDAHO2013
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
New report reveals homophobic discrimination and violence
is endemic in many countries around the world
- International LGBT2020 Homophobia Report reveals widespread
homophobia, violence and harassment of LGBT people in countries all
over the world
- Most LGBT people globally are not out at work due to fears of harassment and bullying
- Over half of LGBT people in most countries believe that there
are issues of homophobia and transphobia in their own
workplace
Sydney, Australia (OUTNOW) - May 16, 2013 -- Data released from
the world's largest research program into the lives of lesbian,
gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people has revealed the extent
to which LGBT people suffer harassment, discrimination, refusal of
goods and services and violence because of their sexuality. The
LGBT2020 study measures these data on a global scale for the very
first time.
The findings released in conjunction with IDAHO day
(The International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia
http://www.dayagainsthomophobia.org) which is held annually on the
17 May, give the clearest picture to date about the widespread
levels of harassment and discrimination that LGBT people face on a
daily basis in countries right around the world.
The 'Out Now Global LGBT2020 Homophobia Report' research was conducted by the worldʼs leading LGBT consulting firm Out Now Global as part of the 'Out Now Global LGBT2020 Study'. This groundbreaking project is the largest global research project into the lives of LGBT people that has ever been undertaken, and to date the LGBT2020 study has collected data in 12 languages from almost 100,000 LGBT respondents in 21 countries around the globe on a variety of topics, include workplace and discrimination issues. Countries sampled during 2012 for the LGBT2020 research report include: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Ecuador, France, Germany, India, Ireland, Israel, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, Peru, Poland, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay. (Those in bold are included in the report released by Out Now for 2013 IDAHO Day.)
The results highlight several key global trends for LGBT people
among findings that are relatively consistent across the various
countries tested, including the countries in the LGBT2020 study not
included in this new report. These data reveal the prevalence of
homophobia, which is still endemic and appears to be culturally
ingrained in societies globally.
The new 'Out Now Global LGBT2020
Homophobia Report' highlights that discrimination, harassment and
violence is occurring to LGBT people because of their sexuality all
over the world, and shows that even in the most progressive western
countries not everyone who identifies as being either LGB or T is
able to be completely 'out' or open about their sexuality either at
work, with friends or with family.
The research also reveals that more than 50% of respondents tested
believe there are problems of varying degrees of severity for LGBT
people in their own workplace.
While these findings highlight the
extent of discrimination and harassment of LGBT people they may
only reveal part of the problem. The research shows that even in a
country as socially progressive as the Netherlands for example, the
percentage of LGBT people who are able to be out to everyone at
work (65%), with family (77%) and with their friends (83%) is not
total showing that issues in coming out are real and affect
interpersonal relationships across society. This ability to be
'out' drops to just 17% (at work), 21% (with family) and 26% (with
friends) in Japan, where cultural norms make it far more
'unacceptable' for LGBT people to be open about their sexuality or
gender identity.
The new LGBT2020 homophobia figures reveal the
true lack of visibility for LGBT people in society, particularly in
the workplace, where even in a country as reportedly accepting as
the Netherlands - more than one in every three (35%) of all
LGBT respondents feel that they are unable to completely be
themselves with their colleagues at work.
This lack of visibility
because of reluctance amongst many LGBT people to come out about
their sexuality or gender identity is explained by another finding
of the research.
There is a very real threat that out and open LGBT people risk
harassment, discrimination and violence - both verbal abuse and
physical assaults - in the societies in which they live, all over
the world due to their sexuality or gender identity.
The 'Out Now
Global LGBT2020 Homophobia Report' shows that there is a particular
lack of visibility (known as 'being in the closet') for LGBT people
globally which is especially prevalent in certain countries
including Japan, Turkey, Mexico, France and Brazil. With fewer
visible 'out' LGBT people in these countries the actual levels of
homophobia could be far higher than reported as people who feel
unable to be out are often adopting this tactic as part of a
strategy to minimise homophobic and transphobic incidents against
themselves.
There is a strong correlation with how out people are
in a particular country in their places of work, with how well they
feel LGBT people generally are treated in the workplace, indicating
that countries where people are less likely to be out at work are
also those countries where LGBT respondents feel LGBT people in the
workplace are treated poorly.
Issues of homophobia and
transphobia are not defined by levels of development within
nations.
The findings of the new 'Out Now Global LGBT2020 Homophobia
Report' show that countries such as the USA, UK, Canada, France and
Germany (amongst others) all have significant cultural issues
affecting how open LGBT people can be in all levels of society, and
respondents from these countries also report worryingly high levels
of harassment, violence and discrimination which they suffer
because of their sexuality or gender identity.
In the USA for
example, 59% of respondents believe that there are issues of
concern to them regarding how LGBT people are currently treated
while at work, which may go some way to explaining why only 44% of
LGBT respondents from the USA are out to everyone in the
workplace.
Similarly in the UK, only 52% of respondents said that they felt able to be 'out to everyone' at work, and 15% of respondents indicated that they had suffered harassment in the workplace during the past year. It appears that no matter where LGBT people live in the world today, too many still run very real daily risks of suffering harassment, bullying, violence and intimidation solely on the basis of their sexual orientation.
Ian Johnson, CEO of Out Now was keen to add context to the research. "The findings of this 'Out Now Global LGBT2020 Homophobia Report' show that we have a long way to go in achieving a society which is truly welcoming and accepting of sexual and gender diversity," Johnson said. "Out Now hopes this data goes some way to helping highlight the very real problems of homophobia and transphobia which many LGBT people encounter every day, in all parts of the world. Of course one of the most important things we say at Out Now is that averages mask diversity. There is no such thing as a 'typical' LGBT person. There are just individuals. At Out Now one of our touchstones is that 'LGBT' spells people. People around the world living diverse lives - yet all having at least one characteristic that unites them - being a member of the minority group within societies known as LGBT."
Joel Bedos from the IDAHO Committee said: "The Out Now Global
LGBT2020 Study will no doubt provide renewed momentum for companies
to increase their commitment to Human Rights for all, irrespective
of sexual orientation and gender identity or expression. Not only
within their companies, but within the societies at large that they
live and work in. By supporting local LGBT advocates who work every
day to fight against stigma and discrimination, companies are
proving vital in implementing a core component of their broader
corporate social responsibility."
Media contact:
Darren Cooper, Out Now darren.cooper@OutNowConsulting.com
About Out Now
/media/1332/Idaho-discrimination-report-global-V7.pdf
Established in 1992, Out Now is the world's leading LGBT
marketing organization and has for two decades been relied upon by
many of the world's leading brands, organisations and tourism
bodies for specialized gay and lesbian marketing insight and
expertise. Services include research, training, strategy and
communications. Out Now clients include IBM, Toyota, Citibank,
German National Tourist Office, TUI, Lufthansa, Berlin Tourism
Marketing, Vienna Tourist Board, Visit Manchester, Stockholm
Visitors Board and Lloyds TSB Banking Group.
About IDAHO
http://dayagainsthomophobia.org/about/
The International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO)
was created in 2004 to draw the attention of policymakers, opinion
leaders, social movements, the public and the media to this
issue.
It is not one centralised campaign; rather it is a moment that
everyone can take advantage of to take action.
The date of May 17th was specifically chosen to commemorate the
World Health Organization's decision in 1990 to declassify
homosexuality as a mental disorder.
The International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia is now
celebrated in more than 100 countries, in all world regions and in
places as diverse as Australia, Iran, Cameroon or Albania.
It has received official recognition from several States and such
international institutions as the European Parliament, and by
countless local authorities. Most United Nations agencies also mark
the Day with specific events. LGBTI organizations, governments,
cities, human rights organizations, corporations and celebrities
have all taken action on May 17th to:
> Draw media attention to the issue of homophobia and
transphobia
> Organise events which mobilize public opinion
> Demand attention from policymakers and engage in lobbying
activities
> Network with like-minded organizations and develop new
partnerships, at home or beyond
> Mobilize existing constituencies and address new
audiences
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