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Individuals who do not fit conventional classifications of binary gender are coping with an “troubling” rise in violence, as stated by the European Union’s primary human rights organization.

Research Shows Significant Rise in Violence

This study, which gathered input from 1,920 respondents across three dozen EU nations, centered on persons who identify as intersex.

Data showed over the past five years, instances of physical aggression and intimidation have risen dramatically—especially among people identifying as gender nonconforming.

34% of respondents reported experiencing subjected to violence in the period leading up to the research, compared to less than a quarter in the previous study.

Experienced bias-driven targeting nearly doubled from 42% to 74% between 2019 to 2023.

Medical Interventions Lacking Full Agreement

More than half of intersex people, exactly fifty-seven percent, revealed being subjected to surgery or healthcare practices designed to modify their physical traits without their informed consent.

Additionally, 39% reported they were subjected to so-called conversion practices targeting their attraction or gender expression, versus a rate of 25 percent within all LGBTQ+ groups.

Root Causes: Disinformation and Online Hatred

The rise in targeting was connected to a wider climate of “increasing or persisting intolerance and bias,” combined with aggressive digital hostility efforts.

Such efforts are “exploited” the LGBT+ population, promoting false information that fuel hostility and normalise bias.

“Disinformation operations promoting bigotry are often conducted by local and international entities seeking to challenge EU societies and fundamental principles including respect, justice, and variety.”

Consequences on Emotional State

The report cautioned that bias can have far-reaching effects on gender-diverse individuals, leading to acute marginalisation and critical challenges such as homelessness, suicidal thoughts, or suicide attempts.

Over 50% of intersex respondents, specifically 53%, indicated thinking about suicide within the prior twelve months, a rate significantly elevated than the broad percentage of 37% observed across other queer populations.

Calls to Action

This EU organization has called on member states to add innate traits to protected grounds in non-discrimination policies and to take further action to tackle hate crimes and hostile language directed toward non-binary individuals.

“Gender-Diverse people in the European Union experience concerning degrees of isolation, prejudice, and abuse. It is essential they are given specific support that responds to their particular needs to ensure they can access their human rights and live in dignity.”