New research highlights shocking levels of abuse towards LGBTQIA young adults in the last year
BY ELLA GAUCI, IMAGE BY SLAYTINA
The LGBTQIA charity Just Like Us found that 72% of trans young adults have faced verbal abuse in the last year according to their new research. They concluded that trans young adults were the most targeted group for verbal abuse attacks.
Covering a range of topics from well-being, home life, and their time in school, the data surveyed 3,695 adults aged 18 to 25. It will be used in a new report called Positive Futures, published on 1 June.
Amy Ashenden, the interim CEO of Just Like Us, said: “It is devastating that the majority of trans young people have faced verbal abuse in the past year alone, and a sign of the often terrifyingly transphobic times we are living in here in the UK.”
The report also found that lesbian young adults were more likely to experience sexual abuse than any other group, and were also more vulnerable to physical abuse than non-LGBT youth. Only 6 in 10 LGBTQIA young adults said they felt safe at home.
“The levels of abuse faced by LGBT+ young adults are completely unacceptable,” Amy continued. “It’s hard to believe that in 2023, LGBT+ young people are still being subjected to verbal abuse and violence and that anti-LGBT+ attacks are so prevalent that they are even being directed at non-LGBT+ young people.”
“It is absolutely vital that we start taking LGBT+ inclusion seriously, and that schools all over the UK give young people positive messages about LGBT+ identities, otherwise I fear that these figures will only increase.”
Those affected by the issues included in this research should contact Childline (0800 1111),
Samaritans (116 123), or Switchboard (0800 0119 100).
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