Some 62% of LGBTQ+ people in Belgium are open about their sexual orientation, above the EU average of 51%. But a new survey has found that over half have experienced harassment in the past year, and a third have felt discriminated against.
As Brussels gears up for its annual Pride March on Saturday, a survey by the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) has found that LGBTQ+ people across the EU still experience hate-motivated violence and discrimination – especially young people, and those in the intersex, trans, non-binary and gender diverse communities.
The FRA's survey analysed the experiences of over 100,000 LGBTQ+ people of all backgrounds aged 15 years and above in the EU and neighbouring countries Albania, the Republic of North Macedonia and Serbia, with the last survey in 2019.
Belgian figures
In Belgium, while the majority of LGBTQ+ people are fairly or very open about their sexual orientation, 53% avoid holding hands with their partner in public, and 27% avoid certain locations for fear of being assaulted (in line with EU averages).
Last year, 32% of LGBTQ+ people in Belgium felt discriminated against in some way, and 53% of respondents said they had been harassed in the past year. Some 15% said they had been attacked in the past five years, and 6% had been attacked in the last 12 months (marginally higher than EU averages of 13% and 5%).
More than two thirds (67%) of Belgian respondents said they experienced bullying in school because of their sexual orientation, which is the same as the EU average and a steep increase from 43% in 2019.
Just 14% of LGBTQ+ people have gone to the police in Belgium to report physical or sexual attacks, or reported discrimination to an equality body or other organisation. The EU-wide reporting average is 11%.
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In line with the EU average, more than one in ten (11%) of LGBTQ+ respondents in Belgium said they have had suicidal thoughts "often or always" in the past year.
More than half (53%) of Belgian respondents believe that the Federal Government is effectively combatting prejudice and intolerance against LGBTQ+ people, well above the EU average of 26%.
Some 43% of respondents said that violence against LGBTQ+ people is on the rise in Belgium, and 38% said they have seen a rise in prejudice and intolerance in the last five years – falling below EU averages of 59% and 55%, respectively.
Call for government action
Publishing the results of the survey on Tuesday, the FRA called for governments to take a number of actions, including investing in police training to ensure proper investigation of LGBTQ+ hate crimes, tackling online hatred and disinformation campaigns against LGBTQ+ people, addressing school bullying and curricula to build on EU practices, and ending 'conversion' practices and non-vital medical interventions.
FRA Director Sirpa Rautio said that being openly LGBTQ+ in Europe "should not be a struggle".
"Even though we see signs of progress, bullying, harassment and violence remain constant threats. It is time to act decisively and build on the progress we have made, so everyone in the EU is treated equally and can live with dignity and respect," she said.
European Commissioner for Equality Helena Dalli encouraged all Member States to use the survey data to "deliver robust policies to counter discrimination and protect the rights of all LGBTQ+ people."
