physical attacks on the “worrying rise” last year, according to the annual report of SOS Homophobia

Homophobic physical attacks are in “worrying increase”, according to the annual report of SOS homophobia, published Tuesday, May 16. In 2022, the association identified 184 cases, i.e. one physical attack every two days, up 28% compared to 2021.

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The victims are mainly men, in public places (38% of cases). They report having been the subject in the vast majority of blows and injuries, but also of spitting or throwing objects. In half of the cases, these attacks are committed by men (alone or in groups).

Cases of transphobia on the rise

The number of cases of transphobia increased by 27% in 2022 compared to 2021. According to SOS homophobia, “it marks the repercussions of the trivialization of the rejection of trans and non-binary people in the media and on social networks”. In August 2022, the distribution of a Family Planning poster representing a pregnant man had, for example, aroused many negative reactions.

More generally, SOS Homophobia notes a 5% increase in LGBTphobic situations in France, most often on the internet, then in shops and finally in public places. In more than half (52%) of the cases, it is violence targeting gay men. In 2022, the monkeypox epidemic highlighted in particular “the stigmatization of gay and bi men by certain media and health personnel”, explains the report.

This SOS Homophobia report has been published every year since 1997. The data for the 2023 report comes from the 1,504 testimonials received by the association from January 1 to December 31, 2022.