The attitude towards LGBTI people in Bulgaria has deteriorated over the past 6 years, according to a survey

GLAS Foundation presented data from a sociological survey on homophobia levels in Bulgaria at a press conference, dedicated to topics such as LGBTI people’s coming out to their relatives, parenthood and social tolerance. The national representative survey of 1,000+ people was prepared by the THB BBC in the period August-September 2018 and it comes to the conclusion that the attitude towards LGBTI people in Bulgaria over the past six years has been worsening.

More than half of the respondents agree that LGBTI people avoid holding hands in public, and that transgender people refrain from expressing their gender identity freely because of fear of assault, threat or harassment. Attitudes towards bisexuals and lesbians are relatively more favorable than gays and transsexuals, and women and younger people show less unfavorable attitudes towards LGBTI people. All respondents demonstrate the highest levels of social solidarity when victims are disabled and are least likely to intervene when victims are transgender people. Low levels of sympathy for transgender victims of violence mean that they are at a greater risk of hate crimes.