Being reunited ‘like lotto win’
AN ELDERLY couple were able to hold hands for the first time in more than a year thanks to the easing of Covid-19 restrictions. Frank Whitelow said the reunion with his wife, Sheila, was better than “winning the lottery”. Frank, 88, and Sheila, 82, had never been apart for more than a week before the pandemic. Sheila, who has dementia and Parkinson’s disease, had been prevented from embracing doting husband Frank at her care home, Carr Croft Care Home in Leeds.
The lovebirds shared a warm embrace and held each other’s hands. Frank also presented his sweetheart with a bouquet of flowers.
He said: “I went in and we just sat holding hands and it was like winning the lottery, in fact it was better. I was absolutely elated. In fact, I didn’t sleep last night to be honest.
“When she realised who I was the big smile came and she was excited. It makes me feel a lot better.”
WE all want to live in a Scotland where everyone is safe to be who they are and to live their lives without fear. But for now, we know that this is not a reality for everyone.
Each year, thousands of crimes motivated by hatred are recorded, with people targeted because of race, religion, disability, sexual orientation or transgender identity.
The Hate Crime Bill is one piece of the puzzle in moving us closer to where we are all valued and no one is targeted by hate.
Lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people tell us that hate crime is one of their biggest concerns.
In our 2017 survey of 1300 LGBT people, we found 60 per cent of LGB people, and 80 per cent of trans people, had experienced hate crime. Nine in 10 of those had suffered more than one hate crime, and 30 per cent had experienced more than 10 incidents. The most common included threatening and abusive behaviour, physical assault, and sexual assault.
We also know the majority of hate crimes are not reported to the police. More than 70 per cent of LGBT say they did not report, even if they had experienced multiple incidents. So there is also work to do on making sure people have the confidence to report crimes.
But while these numbers help us see the problem, hate crime is not about statistics. It is about people who have been harmed by being hated for being who they are.
In the debate about getting this Bill right, we should remember these are the people for whom this it is most important. They want to live their lives in safety and peace, and are hurt deeply by their experiences of hate crime.
This Bill will help deal better with hate crime and encourage reporting. By passing it, Parliament will reaffirm we all deserve to be treated with respect and are valued as part of society.