Introduction
Since 1998, the Swedish Federation for LGBTQ+ Rights (RFSL) has been running a Support Centre (Stödmottagning). The service is aimed at LGBTQ+ people who have been victims of hate crimes and violence in intimate relationships. Relatives and friends of victims are also welcome, as are professionals who, by virtue of their work, deal with LGBTQ+ people who have been subjected to violence.
The reason for producing this guide is that we, the coordinators of the RFSL Support Centre, have come to the conclusion that: we are unique in Sweden in that we meet so many people who have been or are being subjected to hate crimes. We are one of the few organisations offering support counselling specifically designed to meet the needs of people affected by such crimes.
The RFSL Support Centre works not only at an individual level, but also engages in public advocacy and raising awareness of the vulnerability of LGBTQ+ people to violence in intimate relationships, hate crimes, sexual violence and ‘honour’-related violence.
Our staff give lectures, participate in government expert groups and provide advice to other professionals: social services staff, the police, school counsellors and crisis centres. We want to promote a better understanding of hate crimes and how they affect people.
WHAT IS A HATE CRIME?
From a legal perspective, it is a collective term for the motive behind various crimes. The Criminal Code contains a provision for harsher penalties where the motive is hatred.
Editor’s note: In Sweden, the law explicitly recognises hate as a motive. In our region, legal practice is more complex. If your country does not have a specific provision on hate crimes, it is important to document the aggressor’s homophobic/transphobic remarks as part of your testimony to prove malicious intent or particular cruelty.
The consequences of hate crimes are more serious than those of other types of crime, as they are perceived as an attack on one’s identity, on one’s very sense of self. Victims suffer from symptoms of depression, anxiety and a high risk of developing PTSD.
A hate crime may include:
- Verbal abuse and threats.
- Physical assault.
- Theft or damage to property.
- Extortion and demands for money in exchange for not revealing someone’s identity (outing). Important: Never pay blackmailers. This will not stop the threats, but will only confirm your vulnerability. Contact LGBTQ+ organisations for legal and psychological support.
- Inciting persecution of LGBTQ+ people.
Who falls victim to hate crimes?
It does not matter whether the victim actually belongs to the group — the perpetrator’s motive determines the nature of the crime. This guide focuses on the vulnerability of LGBTQ+ people.
Transgender people are at a higher risk of violence than other members of the LGBTQ+ community. Often, the reason for the violence is that a person’s appearance is perceived by those around them as ‘provocative’. Homophobia, biphobia and transphobia exist throughout society and are often manifested through power hierarchies. Those who have resources (housing, a stable income) are often less vulnerable than LGBTQ+ people in difficult financial circumstances or under pressure from their families.
COMMON CONSEQUENCES OF HATE CRIMES
A hate crime is an attack not only on a person’s physical self, but also on their identity. Reactions to and the consequences of such crimes vary from person to person, but there are a number of common consequences affecting many victims of hatbrott. For example, many speak of a sense of disrespect, of the feeling that others hate or dislike them, of constant fear and vulnerability, or of involuntary loneliness. Others describe a fear that what happened will happen again, or that they find themselves in a state where they feel that ‘danger lurks everywhere’. Taken together, these reactions provide a clear description of minority stress.
Minority Stress
Most LGBTQ+ people find it difficult to put into words what minority stress is — the chronic psychosocial stress arising from stigmatisation.
This stress leads to the internalisation of negative self-perception: people may blame themselves for violence, feel ashamed, and believe that basic rights do not apply to them. This internalisation can lead people to see themselves as the cause of violence or to believe that they are ‘to blame’, which, in turn, can trigger feelings of shame. People may devalue themselves or their rights, and minority stress affects their self-esteem. Individuals belonging to multiple minority groups (for example, LGBTQ+ people and those with experiences of migration and refugee status) face a double burden.
Hate crime causes greater harm
Most victims of violence can suffer both physical and emotional trauma. According to research, hate crimes cause greater harm than other violent crimes, and the psychological and emotional distress is more severe. Victims of hate crimes often report difficulties with their studies and work. Many believe that the hate crime has negatively affected their relationships with friends and family. They feel it has become harder to trust those close to them, and they no longer experience the same emotional closeness in their relationships.
Following a hate crime, many experience anxiety, high levels of depressive feelings, nervousness, restlessness, difficulty trusting others, anger, sleep disturbances and difficulty concentrating. This can also lead to depression, anxiety disorders and substance abuse. People who have been victims of hate crimes are more likely to suffer from post-traumatic stress. Other common psychosomatic consequences include, for example, headaches, sleep disturbances, eating difficulties, stomach problems, fatigue and pain in various parts of the body (Iganski, 2016).
Personal crisis
Many people experience a personal crisis after becoming a victim of a hate crime. Intense emotions can lead to a person no longer recognising themselves, and their usual ways of coping with difficult situations cease to work. Some people need to seek support and help in order to start feeling better again. Different people may react in different ways, even if the hate crime was committed in the same way.
Some people feel a loss of their identity and are confused about who they are. This may be accompanied by a feeling of losing control over their lives and a complete lack of knowing what to do. Some feel hopelessness and grief. People react differently to a crisis, and the time needed to recover from it can also vary.
Fear and insecurity
A hate crime is a ‘crime-as-message’ and causes anxiety throughout the whole group or community. The motive behind such a crime is directed not only against the immediate victim. A hate crime causes immense fear and insecurity for the entire group and can also cause fear and anxiety among loved ones who are not part of the group. A hate crime is a message to a group that it is less valuable, unwanted or hated. It is an attack on the group’s social identity and affects even those who were not directly victimised but share the same identity or characteristics.
A sense of fear and insecurity amongst other people in public places is common after a person has been the victim of a hate crime. Fear leads to the person not daring to trust others and feeling that danger is always lurking around the corner. Awareness of one’s own vulnerability leads to heightened vigilance and anxiety that the incident will happen again.
For some people, a hate crime becomes an experience that brings a clear realisation that they belong to a vulnerable group. Coming to terms with belonging to a vulnerable group can be a complex process that forces the individual to view themselves differently and reflect deeply on their identity. In many cases, vulnerability triggers grief and anger, and the individual may lose a sense of freedom and agency in their life. For a period of time, a strong sense of fear towards individuals or groups who share characteristics with the perpetrator is common. For example, a person may react strongly to an appearance similar to that of the perpetrator. Usually, the fear is strongest at the beginning and gradually subsides.
Adaptation and strategies
Experiencing a hate crime leaves its mark on a person’s behaviour at many different levels. By altering their appearance and language and avoiding certain places, the person attempts to cope with the risk of further violence. A common reaction is a fear of showing that you are in a relationship with a partner. People adapt and do not dare to hold their partner’s hand or show affection in public. Couples may stop openly showing their love or avoid mentioning that they are together.
Some do not dare to dress as they wish or in a way that makes them feel comfortable. They may tone down their personality and gender expression. Many people, for a longer or shorter period, stop doing things they previously took for granted. This may manifest as not objecting to negative comments or failing to react in public situations, or not daring to stand up for themselves for fear of becoming a victim of a hate crime again. A strategy aimed at avoiding potentially unpleasant and dangerous situations ultimately leads to a restriction of one’s living space.
Strategies aimed at avoiding hate crimes lead to isolation. Awareness of hostility towards LGBTQ+ people and negative attitudes forces LGBTQ+ people to constantly wonder whether they will be respected. Anyone who has been the victim of a hate crime, especially if it has happened repeatedly, begins to expect to encounter hostility, threats and harassment. It is important that victims of hate crimes receive support so that they do not become stuck in avoidance behaviours, which can potentially lead to a deterioration in their health.
Shame and internalisation
The experience of a hate crime can have a profound impact on a person’s self-esteem and self-worth. For LGBTQ+ people, this can manifest as feelings of shame and doubts about their own identity. People may begin to view themselves as deviant and link the violence they have experienced to their own identity. These conflicting thoughts are a consequence of internalised negative attitudes towards LGBTQ+ people and a way of integrating negative societal attitudes into one’s own self-perception.
Vulnerability to hate crime can lead to the victim feeling different, lonely and rejected. For many, this becomes a painful reminder of what it is like to be considered ‘different’, leading to feelings of alienation. People may need support and help in dealing with shame and internalised negative attitudes towards LGBTQ+ people; details of such support are provided in the section below.
Reactions of those around them
People who have been victims of hate crimes often have to retell the story many times, first to friends, family and partners, and then to professionals. Each time they recount a hate crime, victims must cope with the reactions of those around them, which can be a heavy burden. A lack of response or concern, just as much as excessive anxiety, can be something the victim needs help to cope with. It is not uncommon for loved ones to downplay the significance of the crime, whilst the victim’s grief and fear are not taken seriously.
Normalisation of violence
Repeated vulnerability can lead to the normalisation of violence in everyday life. It happens that people who have been subjected to abuse brush it off or downplay the seriousness of their vulnerability. Some LGBTQ+ people reason that putting up with threats is ‘part of life’. This is also one of the reasons why so few hate crimes are reported to the police. Phrases such as ‘what you have experienced is a hate crime’ can give a person the words to describe and validate their experiences.
In conclusion, it can be said that most people who have experienced violence suffer physical or psychological trauma. Depression, anxiety, withdrawal and isolation are common.
SUPPORT FOR VICTIMS OF HATE CRIMES
The RFSL Support Centre is the only one in Sweden specifically aimed at LGBTQ+ people.
Summary of the support available:
- One-off crisis counselling or a series of therapeutic sessions.
- Information on rights.
- Accompaniment and establishing contact with healthcare providers and public authorities.
- Support when reporting to the police and during legal proceedings.
- Assistance in establishing contact with a victim’s solicitor.
- Anonymous support via telephone and email.
A hate crime is an attack on social identity; therefore, it is particularly important to empathise with the victim and to acknowledge and validate their testimony. We work to provide practical and emotional support and help the victim develop safety strategies. The primary task of the specialist is to mitigate the psychological consequences of the trauma.
The initial consultation
Specialists must be particularly well-prepared for the first meeting. The victim should be reassured by explaining the plan for the consultation. First, the specialist must clearly explain that they are ready to support and listen to the client’s story. Sincere, non-judgemental listening is of key importance. We must show empathy, acknowledge and validate the client’s experiences. It is important not to create unrealistic expectations.
Awareness of differences and diversity
The practitioner must be self-critical and constantly reflect on their own social position (age, skin colour, gender) in relation to the client. It is necessary to acknowledge the differences and inequalities that may exist. Differences that influence experiences of vulnerability must be acknowledged and taken seriously.
Focus on the victim’s needs
The victim’s needs must be the focus. The professional must proceed on the basis of the victim’s wishes and interests and cooperate with other professionals only if the victim themselves wishes to do so. If the victim does not wish to report the matter to the police, this must be accepted.
How a person experiences the consequences depends on many factors: from mental health to their living environment. The professional must take into account the victim’s life situation: employment, housing, social risk. The aim is to support the victim’s self-determination and recovery. The professional must constantly coordinate their actions with the victim. We must not pressure the client or pursue our own agenda.
Checklist for needs-based support
- Offer anonymity.
- Inform them of the obligation to maintain confidentiality.
- Identify the victim’s immediate needs.
- Adapt support to the person’s physical and psychosocial condition.
- Support should be based on the victim's available resources.
- Ensure that the victim is safe.
- Help refer them to other services and, if necessary, accompany them there.
Dealing with shame
As LGBTQ+ people experience shame, it is important that they are able to express their feelings. Feeling respected by the professional helps to reduce internalised negative attitudes. The professional can work with the affected person to identify topics that promote positive self-perception, such as involvement in the fight for the rights of LGBTQ+ people or building a meaningful social network.
Dealing with frustration
Clients often experience frustration during the legal support process. It is important to show empathy whilst maintaining professionalism. The professional’s own feelings should not become the focus of attention. Professionals should have the opportunity to consult with colleagues for mutual support.
Communication and language
To ensure high-quality communication, an awareness of norm-criticism and intersectionality is necessary. Ensure that the terms used are inclusive in terms of gender and sexuality.
Checklist for high-quality communication
- Be open-minded and respect the victim for who they are.
- Accept the victim's experience of having been victimised.
- Do not criticise or judge the victim's behaviour or decisions.
- Accept the victim's decisions and do not make decisions for them.
- Do not pressure the victim into acting according to your ideas.
Language checklist
- Use gender-neutral language and suffixes.
- Create a cheat sheet with common terms and phrases.
- Have staff and volunteers practise using inclusive language.
- Do not hesitate to ask people about their pronouns.
Topics for supportive conversations
- A discussion about how the crime happened and their feelings (a topic for several meetings).
- An explanation of the nature of hate crime and its structural aspects.
- A discussion about reporting the crime to the police and assistance in drafting the report.
- Assessing the need for legal representation.
- Discussing the reactions of those around you and the feeling of being a victim in the eyes of others.
- Exploring the spatial consequences and ‘triggers’ at the scene of the incident.
- Working through shame and internalised negative attitudes.
FINAL WORDS
The RFSL Support Centre works to reduce stigma and shame by providing support to LGBTQ+ people. Social and professional support can be crucial in alleviating the victim’s suffering and helping them move forward. RFSL’s vision is a world where the human rights of all LGBTQ+ people are respected and no one is left behind.
