Report IV contains data from May 2020 to April 2021. In total, 14 LGBTI+phobia incidences have been known in Álava. “There have been fewer incidents than in previous years. This decrease is closely linked to the pandemic situation, as the pandemic has made it difficult to report violent situations and has caused there to be no spaces where many aggressions have traditionally occurred (parties, leisure...)”.

The report highlights the increase in the incidence of transsexuals in the Basque Country. “The hate speech against people in general has continued to gain prominence in the last year, especially in the framework of the process of processing the State Bill that guarantees the rights of this group. Hate speech is a prelude to hate crimes, so it is urgent to paralyse these kinds of messages before it becomes a real threat that generates widespread aggression.”

In fact, attacks and hate speeches against the LGBTI+ group have also increased.

Back home and to the closet in times of pandemic

“The family home is not a safe and caring space for LGBTI+ people who, even if they are not welcomed into their family, are forced to live with their family. This increases rates of domestic violence, physical and emotional abuse, as well as damage to mental health. We cannot forget people who have had to return home from their family, to take care of their elders, those who have therefore had to go back to the closet, or limit their gender expression.”

Ikusgune has offered a number of recommendations. For example, to conduct campaigns against rumours, against hate speech towards trans people; to incorporate the LGTBI+ perspective into social policies, identifying the factors that cause social exclusion related to sexual and gender diversity; to promote good practices in the media to avoid multiple discriminations in news writing related to aggressions to LGTBI+ people; to establish different patterns of attention and administrative action LTTTBI+.