The report is from the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA), which answers to the European Union, and is published on the occasion of the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia, which is marked on Friday, May 17.

Entitled 'LGBTIQ equality at a crossroads', this third survey by the FRA, which obtained 100,577 responses from people from 30 countries, reports an increase in violence against sexual and gender minorities in the last five years.

In the opinion of the agency's director, Sirpa Rautio, Europe is facing a "paradox" because, on the one hand, people are "more open about their sexual orientation", but, on the other hand, the alarming rates of violence tell a different story".

The number of people who said they had been victims of violence rose to 14%, slightly more than in 2019, with transgender people being particularly targeted. And harassment now affects more than half of respondents, compared to 37% previously.

The situation is particularly bad in schools, where two thirds say they have been bullied, compared to 46% in 2019.

In Portugal, for example, 74% of people said they had been bullied at school, had been ridiculed, teased, insulted or threatened because they were part of the LGBTIQ community (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Intersex and Queer), a figure that is 67% on average in Europe to 27.

34% of LGBTIQ students say they hide their condition at school and 60% replied that these issues were never discussed at school.

In terms of health, 14% of respondents said they had thought about suicide in the year before the survey, and 17% said they had felt discriminated against in accessing health services.

In Portugal, 44% of people who responded to the survey said they avoid holding hands with their same-sex partner and 23% admit to avoiding certain places for fear of being attacked.

In the year before the survey, 38% said they had been discriminated against in any area of life and 2% said they had been attacked. 21% reported to the police for physical or sexual violence.

36% believe that violence against LGBTIQ people in Portugal has been increasing and that intolerance and the same percentage argue that discrimination against these people has increased in the last five years.

The director of the FRA points out that more than one in two LGBTQ+ people now speak openly about their sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, as well as their sexual characteristics.

"But the majority still avoid holding their partner's hand in public for fear of being attacked," the FRA said in a press release. This is the case for 60% of respondents in France, compared to a European average of 53%.

In Hungary, where the rights of LGBT+ people have regressed in recent years as a result of measures taken by Prime Minister Viktor Orban, only 3% feel that their government "combats prejudice and intolerance" against them, the lowest percentage in the bloc, compared to an EU average of 26%.

The FRA calls on member countries to "implement a culture of zero tolerance" for anti-LGBTQ+ violence.

With regard to hate speech on the internet, the FRA recommends "addressing the risk of bias in algorithms and ensuring that digital platforms comply with EU legislation".

Read Also: Bloco proposes that the Azorean parliament celebrate the Day Against Homophobia (Portuguese version)