How the LGBTIQA+ community can protect themselves from assault this summer

In June 2020, the nation was shocked to its core when three men were stabbed to death in Forbury Gardens in Reading, in broad daylight.  It turned out that the men, who had been enjoying socialising in the sunshine, were victims of a homophobic hate crime. From registered sex offenders to homophobic haters on the prowl, members of the LGBTQ+ community can be vulnerable just for being themselves, unfortunately.  If you’re sometimes nervous about going out, here are some tips for protecting yourself against assault this summer… Staying Safe in UK Bars and Clubs Clubs, pubs and bars can be great places to meet up with friends and to meet new people. While everybody should, of course, expect to visit these venues without fear of assault, this is sadly not always the case.  As well as violent hate crime assaults, shockingly, a third of gay men say that they have experienced sexual abuse or assaults while in pubs and bars in the UK.  While it’s hard to believe in 2022, ‘the panic defence’ has been used in a number of cases in which a member of the LGBTQ+ community has been assaulted. This is a defense whereby the defendant claims that he or she ‘panicked’ when in the presence of a member of the LGBTQ+ community and, therefore, committed the assault. The fact that this exists is testament to the dangers facing certain members of the community. Protecting yourself during a night out is vital and, there are a few things that you can do… Read More