I was really saddened and angered to read news reports at the weekend, that a gay couple have been subjected to threats, abuse and targeted attack by a group of teenage homophobes since moving to Taunton last year. Firstly, thoughts immediately are with this couple for what must be incredibly frightening and depressing experiences, and they have every right to feel ‘why did we come here’, especially during the current pandemic we are all trying to cope with. I’m glad to read that they have received a lot of morale support from local allies and support from the police liaison. Anybody with information on the suspects are asked to call 101 and quote the reference number 5221012267. We send our best wishes and virtual hugs to you both and really hope you receive the support you need to live safely and happily here ongoing without intimidation from these ignorant individuals.
Nothing can, or should deduct from their experiences, but it feels important to also say incidents of this level seem rare, certainly in the last ten years I have lived in Taunton. However it does need questioning – is it rare, or is it happening more than we realise? Have I just been lucky? What more subtle stuff goes on under the radar? This is where reporting is so important, the police and agencies need to know in order to both deal appropriately with those perpetrators of hate crime, but also target areas of community where it happens and support prevention https://www.avonandsomerset.police.uk/report/hate-crime/. If support is needed, the local hate crime service is provided by SARI (Stand Against Racism & Inequality) and details can be found at their website https://www.sariweb.org.uk/ or call 0800 171 2272. Another point, is that people who have never even lived in the area are quick to say ‘oh look at Taunton, what a worrying place to be’. This is where I feel some perspective is needed. We’re coming up to LGBT+ history month, and I’m sorry to say that not all history is confined to the past. Hate crime against LGBT+ people still happens all over the UK at some point as many of us are aware. It’s fair to say Taunton (and the wider South West) is not exactly a great model for equality and diversity. Maybe we don’t all feel it’s a place to hold hands or kiss in the street, which you might not blink an eye at in Soho, but it certainly isn’t unique and some of us of a certain age have held onto that lack of confidence for a long time due to experiences of the past. It’s important to try and break this cycle and events like this incident, that naturally make people fearful, are really upsetting. Hate crime and prejudice still happens in rural towns, it happens in big cities, it happens in suburbs, it happens in certain workplaces, it happens in schools, it happens online from people’s armchairs and keypads, and it happens within some people’s own families. A quick look down any twitter feed supporting trans and non-binary people for example, will quickly show you that there are some ‘nasty individuals’ out there, and who knows when we are sharing the same street with one of them. It always surprises people when I tell them the only time I have ever been physically and verbally attacked for being gay was in Brighton. Last year out for a walk, I heard a young boy (about 10ish) run past me shouting at a girl with him that she was ‘a lesbian’, in an abusive manner. Clearly, kids are still learning this kind of habitual imprinting from adults. So much positive change has happened particularly in the last 50+ years, but clearly we still need to have events like pride and all those activists out there raising their voices. On and up: In 2019 we had the ‘Outing the past’ LGBT+ history month event at Taunton library. There was a brief online furore about the ‘Drag Queen Story Telling’ element, nicely wound up by a local newspaper who instead of defending it chose to run a poll about whether it was offensive or not. Thankfully it came out in favour, and for every ridiculous hysterical comment criticising it, there were another 5 allies telling them to get a grip. The whole event was very positive and so many of the Taunton community were out, open to learning and having our backs. Similarly, we have the local GoCreate organisation creating events like Pride in Art and of course driving forward Taunton’s first pride, sadly held back due to covid. If ever there is an opportunity to hold hands, walk proudly down the street and say as a collective voice ‘we’re here and part of this place, so adjust your eyes’ then pride will be it. I have real hope it will bring us closer together, get conversations out in the open and increase allyship in the town so that people like these sad teenagers know that their behaviour and views are not welcome here. You may remember in 2019 a lesbian couple were victims of a homophobic attack in the Somerset harbour town of Watchet – allies in the local community and venues rallied round and immediately started a pride movement, as a positive protest and to show others that prejudice and hate crime is unacceptable. We need to ensure a similar message is heard. The views above are my own so I apologise if I have ill-phrased anything, and it would be good to hear what anyone else thinks as I can’t speak for everyone. But I think all of us will agree that hate crime is never acceptable, whether it’s related to being LGBT+, skin colour and/or ethnicity or any other attributes that make us the wonderfully diverse people we are. If anyone needs support please check our support and networks listings on the website https://tauntongaygroup.weebly.com/lgbt-support-and-information.html If you got this far, thanks for reading Lots of love Stephen x The related news report can be read here – trigger warning: homophobic abuse, hate speech, threats of violence. https://www.somersetlive.co.uk/news/somerset-news/gay-couple-somerset-chased-threatened-4908687 Image from LGBT Foundation who also offer support re hate crime: https://lgbt.foundation/report
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Stephen bennett-troakeFounder of Taunton Gay Group TGG ArchivesCategories |