Nearly half of all respondents to the Changing Faces survey reported experiencing hostile behavior such as staring, remarks, and intimidation, an increase from 34% in 2019 and 43% in 2021, while 33% reported being the victim of a hate crime.
Disability activists want police to “do more” to stop hate crimes against disfigured people.
It follows “sobering” research indicating that 33% of people with visible differences or disfigurements have been victims of a hate crime, compared to 28% in 2019.
In addition, the Changing Faces survey reveals that 49% of respondents have experienced hostile behavior such as staring, remarks, and intimidation, an increase from 34% in 2019 and 42% in 2021.
23% of respondents said they did not disclose the hate crime because they feared it would not be taken seriously. Whereas 11% believed that hate crimes are “just a part of life with visible differences.”
Changing Faces director Heather Blake called the poll “shocking prejudice” against visible differences.
Adam Pearson, an actor, presenter, and activist, has urged police forces to “do more,” stating, “Hate crimes, whomever they target, are abhorrent and cannot be tolerated”.
The rising number of hate crimes against those with apparent differences is worrisome. We cannot wait for a calamity to occur before taking action.
“Police forces throughout the United Kingdom must do more to encourage people with visible differences to report incidents and reassure them that their complaints will be taken seriously.”
Some respondents shared additional experiences, including street threats of violence and online death threats.
Isobel Cameron, who was born with a cleft lip and palate, said her family was rocked as a child. And she still finds it difficult to leave the house.
“This abuse made it difficult for me to go out in public,” she said. I was acutely aware of the glances I received from others, and I was constantly awaiting their progression.
“Occasionally they did. A woman of adult age was walking in front of me and my friend when we were 15 years old. And she kept turning around to stare at me. My companion initially didn’t seem to notice when the woman began shouting insults at me and calling me “fish face.”
Ms. Blake added, “We know that each of these statistics represents a person who has been directly affected by the shocking prejudice and, in some cases, criminal actions of others.”
“No one should be subject to harassment or discrimination based on their appearance”.
We want everyone with a visible difference or disfigurement to understand that we are primarily here for them. This is not something you should be forced to tolerate. Let’s label it what it is: wrong hatred.”
