Dan Jones: International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia

Dan Jones, Local Security Management Specialist for the Trust, speaks about 'hate crimes' and how his job links in with the Rainbow Alliance.

Hi. I’m Dan and this is my first time writing a blog. The Rainbow Alliance asked me to give it a punt to mark this year’s International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia (IDAHOTB), so here goes…

I’ve been the Local Security Management Specialist for the Trust for the last three years. It’s a lovely – but long-winded – job title, which basically means that anything to do with security lands on my desk. I have responsibilities for staff safety, the security of property and assets, police liaison and a range of other tasks. I’ve worked in mental health care for around 17 years in various roles and I’m also a Special Constable with West Yorkshire Police.

So where do I fit in with the Rainbow Alliance then? Well, I’m an ally. I have a wife and three children, and I want my youngsters to grow up in a world where they are not defined or judged by their sexuality.

I’m all too aware of the disparity in mental health care for LGBT+ service users, and the potential barriers they face when accessing treatment and support. LGBT+ people are at increased risk of abuse or being a victim of criminality because of their sexuality, or their perceived sexuality. This is what we call a hate crime, or hate incident, and that’s where I fit in.

But what’s actually classed as a hate crime? And how does it fit into my role with the Rainbow Alliance?

Legally, a hate crime is any offence committed against an individual or group of individuals, of which the perception of those victims is that the offence was committed because of, or influenced by, any of their protected characteristics, or perceived characteristics, such as race, religion, disability, sexual orientation and transgender identity. The obvious example is a physical assault where there was an obvious motivation related to that person’s sexuality or gender identity – e.g. having physical harm inflicted on you because you are gay or Trans person. But hate crime is more than that, and anyone can be the victim.

Quiz time! Not so long ago, I’d finished work and was in B&Q buying yet more DIY materials to do some job I’d been coerced into doing in the house. I had my Rainbow Alliance lanyard on as I’d gone there on the way home from work. A man walked past me, saw the lanyard and made a rather rude comment to me based upon his assumption that I was a gay man. Is that a hate crime?

It’s a tricky one isn’t it? As I identify as a straight man, does that mean it’s not a hate crime? No, it does not, far from it! His perception of me was based purely on the fact I had a rainbow lanyard on. It suggested that I was gay and therefore he wanted to subject me to insulting language. I challenged him on this and firmly sent him on his way!

But the point is, it’s a subtle and sometimes confusing action which can leave someone significantly distressed. For the record, this was a hate crime. He had committed an offence contrary to section 4a of the Public order act 1986, aggravated by section 146 of the criminal justice act 2003. Luckily for him I’m not yet an attested Police Constable yet!

What I’m trying to get across here is that any offence committed, from theft to fraud, to assault and public order, where there is any element of hatred based upon the victim’s identity before, during or immediately after the offence, IS a hate crime and needs to be reported and treated as such.

Last week I met with one of the hate crime co-ordinators for West Yorkshire Police. We are both concerned about possible under reporting of these offences. We have agreed to look at how both organisations can address this and increase our response, support and the actions we take as a result of these reports. We’re both committed to having a firm stance against hate crimes, because we fully understand the impact these incidents can have, not just on the victim, but on others around them and on communities as a whole.

Like I said at the beginning, I don’t want my children growing up in a world where they feel they have to hide or repress their identity because of other people’s prejudiced and ignorant perceptions. However my children choose to identify in terms of their sexuality and gender as they grow up will be down to them. I want to do my bit to make sure they can live in a world free of hatred and judgement.

So please join me in helping to make that a reality for everyone.

If you believe you’ve been the victim or a witness of a hate crime, or any other offence, report it to the police on 101. If there is an immediate risk to life, or a crime in progress, dial 999.

If you want more advice or help on hate crimes, you can get in touch with me via the Rainbow Alliance by emailing rainbow.lypft@nhs.net.

Well that was my first ever blog and I feel immediately technologically savvy!