Vodafone Foundation, Stonewall, and Galop have revealed the findings from their app Zoteria
BY ELLA GAUCI, IMAGE BY DARREN BAKER
As part of the UK’s National Hate Crime Awareness Week, a new report highlights how technology can play a crucial role in supporting LGBTQIA individuals to report both criminal and non-criminal hate incidents. The report, Hate Happens: Technology’s Role In Addressing Anti-LGBTQ+ Hate Encounters In The UK, was authored by Dr Kevin Guyan and commissioned by Vodafone Foundation, Stonewall, and LGBTQIA anti-abuse charity, Galop.
According to 2021 research from Galop, only one in eight hate crimes against LGBTQIA individuals are reported, with many victims unable to access support. Government data from the National LGBT Survey in 2017 showed that over 90% of the most serious incidents were not reported. The new report draws on data from Zoteria, an LGBTQIA support app launched in 2022 by the three organisations, and includes data from its launch to April 2024.
Dr Guyan’s report argues that apps like Zoteria provide a safe, anonymous platform for LGBTQIA people to report hate crimes and access services. This is particularly valuable for those living outside major UK cities, where LGBTQIA support may be harder to find. The report found that three in five victims and survivors of hate encounters were from outside major queer cities like Manchester or London.
As Dr Guyan explains: “Major cities tend to provide more LGBTQIA services such as health and wellbeing organisations, community groups and entertainment venues. By identifying geographical reporting trends we can better understand where encounters are happening and whether people have access to the services they need, or not. Technologies such as Zoteria could help us reach communities that may not ordinarily have access to LGBTQIA specialist services and support.”
The report also found that trans users of Zoteria frequently reported hate encounters which were motivated by their gender expression. 20% of trans victims and survivors of hate encounters requested support from Galop.
Verbal abuse was the most reported form of hate encounter. Zoteria’s aim is for people to understand the terminology and their rights around these hate encounters.
Klara Wertheim, Head of Global Programmes at Stonewall, said: “What’s clear from these findings is that anti-LGBTQIA hate permeates everywhere. This work could help us tackle anti-LGBTQIA hate by preventing it from happening in the first place, and provide better tailored support services to victims. Zoteria is proof that, LGBTQIA or not, we can all play a role in standing up to hate whenever we see it.”
A full copy of the report can be downloaded here.
Zoteria is available to download in the UK, for free, on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
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