Perceptions of Violence and the Self-Regulation of Identity for LGBTQ People in the UK
| Date | 01 April 2022 |
| Published date | 01 April 2022 |
| Author | Alexander Maine |
| DOI | 10.1177/00220183221086384 |
| Subject Matter | Articles |
Perceptions of Violence and the Self-
Regulation of Identity for LGBTQ
People in the UK
Alexander Maine
University of Leicester, UK
Abstract
This article will focus on LGBTQ people’s perceptions of violence in the United Kingdom in
the years following the advent of same-sex marriage using original empirical evidence. These
perceptions will be discussed by focussing on the awareness of hate crime legislation, the
role of law in constraining homophobia alongside intersections of racism, and of the impact
of civil law reform protecting LGBTQ rights. This may be evidenced in many ways, which
this article will recount, including demonstrating awareness of hate crimes, avoiding overt
shows of affection, and the use of safe spaces to exhibit their sexuality. Empirical evidence
will be used to suggest that despite the advent of hate crime protections, increased relationship
recognition rights, and greater representation, many LGBTQ people anticipate violence or
harm because of their sexuality. This article will use theoretical and empirical analysis to dis-
cuss the ways in which violence may manifest in the perceptions of LGBTQ participants and
the significance of such perceptions in the ‘post-equality’society.
Keywords
Violence, hate crime, empirical, LGBTQ, sexuality
Introduction
In the 21
st
Century, there have been significant positive legal changes relating to sexuality, gender iden-
tity, and the lived experiences of LGBTQ people in the United Kingdom, including hate crime protec-
tions, marriage, non-discrimination law, and legal recognition of gender transition. The introduction of
same-sex marriage in England and Wales in 2013
1
was a major milestone in the development LGBTQ
Corresponding author:
Alexander Maine, Leicester Law School, University of Leicester, University Road, Leicester, LE1 7RH, UK.
Email: a.maine@leicester.ac.uk
1. The Marriage (Same-Sex Couples) Act 2013 gained royal assent on the 17
th
July 2013 and came into force on the 29
th
March
2014. Scotland legislated for same-sex marriage in 2014, while legislation took place automatically on the 21 October 2019 in
Northern due to the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc) Act 2019.
Article
The Journal of Criminal Law
2022, Vol. 86(2) 60–74
© The Author(s) 2022
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DOI: 10.1177/00220183221086384
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