Violence against LGBTQ people in Belize

LGBTQ people in Belize are particularly vulnerable to physical and non-physical violence, both from non-state and state actors. All physical (and some non-physical) forms of such violence are criminalised, but victims face multiple barriers to redress. Some non-physical forms are rather state-sanctioned and lawful. Most violence is thought to be driven by anti-LGBTQ prejudice (homophobia, biphobia, transphobia), which in turn is thought to be mainly stoked by the Christian right, Christian fundamentalism, or toxic masculinity. Such violence is deemed significantly detrimental to the health and welfare of over 22,000 LGBTQ individuals (including families with children) in the country.