Hate crime stats show terrible impact of ‘culture war’ bigotry
An alarming rise in hate crimes based on someone’s sexual orientation is being fueled by the spread of bigotry and right wing ‘culture war’ narratives, say the Scottish Greens.
Newly released figures show the proportion of charges aggravated by someone’s sexuality has more than doubled from 16% in 2013 to 2014 to 33% in 2022 to 2023.
Equalities spokesperson Maggie Chapman MSP challenged influencers including politicians to consider the impact that their words can have in terms of fuelling division and hatred.
Ms Chapman said:
“This is sickening. My heart and my solidarity go out to every single person who has been targeted and abused.
“It is no coincidence that these crimes are rising at a time when far right and reactionary movements are growing and when toxic and poisonous smears are being normalised and encouraged by powerful people.
“Some of that hatred is being fuelled by politicians who know the impact of their words but are happy to throw our communities under the bus as part of a ‘culture war’ in order to score political points.
“We all have a responsibility to consider what we are saying and the impact that our words can have.
“Prejudice ruins lives.
“We must all take seriously the responsibility we have to challenge and end the spread of bigotry and build a society where everyone is free and safe to be the people they are.”