Commenting to Galop, Melania Geymonat said:

‘Thank you to Galop for all the support they have kindly given to me. No one should be violated, especially just for being who they are. It is really important in these times of growing social conservatism and intolerance that we fight for our rights that took so long to be achieved.”

Nik Noone, Galop’s Chief Executive said:

‘Melania and Chris have shown enormous bravery. The attack against them is part of a concerning pattern of increased anti-LGBT+ violence. The verdict comes at a time when Home Office figures show an alarming increase in anti-LGBT hate. Transphobic hate crime increased by 37% last year. Sexual orientation rose by 25%. Meanwhile, disability rose by 14%, race by 11% and religious hate by 3%. The figures cover the increase in recorded hate crime between 2017/18 and 2018/19.

Meanwhile, recent Galop polling showed the surprising result that young people have higher levels of anti-LGBT prejcudice than other age groups, and that one in ten people still think that LGBT people are ‘dangerous’ to other people and could be ‘cured’.

The impact of hate crime is significant and traumatic. When you are targeted because of your identity it is vital to have access to specialist, trauma informed and empowerment based services to provide support through the journey of coping and recovery.

We hope that this verdict brings some solace to Melania & Chris and their friends and family, and sends a strong message that anti-LGBT+ prejudice will not be tolerated.’

http://www.galop.org.uk/press-release-teenagers-found-guil…/