The Les Bascos and Lumagorri associations published, on the eve of the day against LGBTIphobia, the data of the tests carried out, leaving a small picture of the situation of Euskal Herria. The results are very similar, as both groups conclude the need for an observatory.

In December, the Les Bascos association validated a number of consultations in which a total of 247 responses were received. This is the first survey that has been carried out, so it is not possible to compare the data, although it is expected that next year it will be repeated to see whether they have been increased or have been foiled. The results were presented on Monday at the headquarters of the Txalaparta de Baiona (Lapurdi).

Half of the respondents have witnessed aggression and one-third have been assaulted in the middle of the street. Despite verbal abuse, 8.4 per cent have been physical and only 9 per cent of attacks are reported. The association has highlighted that 13.2% of these aggressions have occurred in situations related to sports or leisure activities.

On the other hand, the II International Congress on Hate Crimes and Attacks on Sexual and Gender Diversity in Vitoria-Gasteiz. The HAT Lumagorri group has published the ‘Report’ and in the last year they have received 13 cases. This report is a follow-up to the previous year and covers the cases detected between May 2018 and April 2019. Last year 15 cases were received: “During 2018, it was not possible to verify and, therefore, some attacks that occurred in the same places and conditions as the previous year have not been recorded.”

Most of the attacks have been direct discrimination against homosexuals and transsexuals, but they have also been the subject of graffiti, homophobic songs or covers of anomalous and passivophilic skins appearing in public space or in a magazine. As for the cases, they have condemned the rape of a transsexual woman, who has been arrested in Madrid.

Lumagorri explained that municipal agents have not received such cases and that in the Ertzaintza they have only received a complaint for sexual orientation or identity. In this regard, members of the association believe that there is a glass ceiling when detecting attacks and are aware that there are more attacks than those that have appeared in the report: “90% of cases are not reported and there are limits to detecting all cases.”

Both actors stress the need for an observatory

Lumagorri’s members see the implementation of the Vitoria-Gasteiz Observatory as necessary: “The creation of this resource is a new friendly creation, taking into account Lumagorri’s experience in this field” and the Les Bascos association, in the light of the data, has seen the need to strengthen prevention and awareness-raising work. The public authorities have been asked to analyse homophobia and have proposed that an observatory should also be set up in the Northern Basque Country.

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