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Vigils Protest Against Homophobic Hate Crime

Candlelit vigils took place around the UK at the end of last year, after a rise in homophobic crime was brought into sharper focus with the death of Ian Baynham in September, the attack on trainee policeman James Parkes in Liverpool last week and a recent attack on a lesbian couple in Brighton.

The London vigil took place in Trafalgar Square – where Mr Baynham and a friend were subjected to homophobic abuse. After challenging the behaviour of three youths (two women and a man), Mr Baynham was attacked. He later died of his injuries.

A vigil also took place on Stanley Street in Liverpool, where Mr Parkes was attacked. The former PCSO, also a former UNISON member – is seriously ill in hospital after being attacked by a group of teenagers.

Other vigils took place in Old Steine in Brighton and on Millennium Plain (outside the Forum) in Norwich.

Recent reports have revealed that homophobic and transphobic hate crimes are on the increase. At UNISON's LGBT conference in November, guest speaker Kirsten Hearn, an independent member of the Metropolitan Police Authority, will tell delegates about identifying and combating hate crime.

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