Hate crimes against LGBTQ+ individuals in the UK have seen a concerning rise in recent years. The UK Home Office’s 2022 hate crime statistics report highlights a stark increase of 41% in homophobic hate crimes and 56% in transphobic hate crimes in England and Wales. This marks the most significant annual rise since 2012.

In the face of this increasingly hostile environment, SAYiT’s Break The Hate: Anti-LGBTQ+ Hate Conference is set to take place at St Marys Conference Centre. The conference seeks to bring together professionals, academics, and community members to explore the extent of anti-LGBTQ+ hate in the UK and the responses by criminal justice and voluntary agencies. It will look at hate crime and other forms of anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination and related social problems, which go beyond that which is covered by the criminal justice system.

The conference aims to empower LGBTQ+ communities to feel safe and supported, address prejudice towards them, and demonstrate allyship. We will address the issues and impact caused by anti-LGBTQ+ prejudices and provide a vehicle for cross sector organisations to collaborate in respecting and promoting diversity, and challenging discrimination, othering and prejudice.

It seeks to provide a safe and supportive environment for LGBTQ+ individuals to share experiences and discuss the mental health impacts of hate, community-based responses, third-party reporting and barriers to reporting, or accessing support. The conference aims to encourage collaboration in developing solutions to challenge anti-LGBTQ+ hate and prevent hate-motivated violence and discrimination to create socially just, inclusive, and safe communities.

The event is open to anyone interested in challenging anti-LGBTQ+ hate, with particular relevance for those working in criminal and civil justice, frontline youth and community and support services, education, mental health, and LGBTQ+ organisations.