THE REPORTS are increasing.
The latest: a Cocorite man being beaten and robbed a few days ago by a group of people after arranging to meet someone on the social media dating website Grindr.
It was merely one in a spate of similar incidents involving the same online app, which facilitates LGBTQ people coming together to date and network.
There have been almost half a dozen such cases in the last few months alone, including on October 3, 2023, April 22, and May 28.
This is notable because there was a time when such attacks might have gone unreported.
The situation is such that head of the police’s Special Victims Unit, Supt Claire Guy-Alleyne, has pointed to gaps in the law.
“We don’t have a specific hate crime category in legislation, but people may be assaulted or wounded because of their special characteristics,” she said recently to this newspaper. “Hate has no place in our society,”
We agree. We believe this gap must be closed.
Crime and social media have always been a dangerous combination, not just for the LGBTQ community. Women seeking dates on Tinder have been assaulted. Young people have fallen prey to human traffickers on Instagram. Taxi drivers have been robbed and murdered through Uber. A simple thing like buying a TV via Facebook can end in bloodshed.
But the community faces unique challenges when it comes to online targeting. For a start, we live in a society in which homophobia is rife. Many individuals are not free to use avenues to socialise otherwise available. In this world, the internet is a vital tool of connection.
It is difficult to disentangle this social situation from the legislative backdrop.
Homophobia is officially sanctioned by acts of Parliament such as the ironically titled Equal Opportunity Act, which permits discrimination against gay people in employment, education and the provision of goods, services and accommodation.
The Immigration Act formally bans homosexuals. No government has sought to change this despite considerable international embarrassment.
It is true criminals these days don’t care who they attack, whether man, child or dog.
But the bandits turning to Grindr to lure people do so with the full knowledge of what the app is. In fact, they bank on their victims not reporting the crime because of stigma. Cases are underreported.
More reports now might indicate, ironically, progress. More victims are coming forward.
“As police officers, we have a duty to protect every citizen, regardless of your race, religion, gender or sexual orientation,” Supt Guy-Alleyne assures.
Still, it would be far better if there were the backing of law, and not just the vague provisions of an outdated Constitution of qualified reach, to send a clear signal.
In our country, no form of hate should be tolerated.
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