A total of 93% of respondents to a survey of lesbian, bisexual and non-binary people attracted to women in Bulgaria reported experiencing at least one form of harassment or violence during their lifetime, according to a report by the non-governmental organization Lespectra.
The report, titled Lesbophobia: Hidden Forms of Gender-Based Violence in Bulgaria, was presented by Lespectra co-founder Doroteya Stefanova at an event organized with financial support from the Bulgarian Fund for Women and the European Union.
According to the findings, appearance and gender expression were among the most common reasons for harassment and violence against respondents.
Stefanova explained that the study aimed to gather up-to-date information on gender-based violence and lesbophobia, a specific form of prejudice involving misogyny, sexism and discrimination against people whose sexual orientation does not conform to heterosexual norms. It also examined social attitudes towards individuals based not only on their sexual orientation but also on their appearance and how others perceive them.
The analysis was based on quantitative and qualitative research conducted between April and July 2025. It included a survey of 147 respondents and nine in-depth interviews.
Participants were required to be at least 18 years old, to have lived in Bulgaria for at least one of the previous five years, to experience attraction to women and to identify as women, non-binary people or another gender identity.
Verbal harassment or abuse was the most frequently reported experience, cited by 79% of respondents, followed by sexual harassment or violence (68%), online harassment (49%), threats (44%) and physical violence (39%).
The report also found that eight in ten lesbian respondents did not report experiences of harassment or violence to public authorities.
When incidents of physical violence, discrimination or sexual harassment were reported, respondents were more likely to turn to LGBTI organisations than to the police or healthcare services.
Stefanova said most incidents of harassment occurred in public places and were most often perpetrated by strangers.
Survey Finds Widespread Harassment, Violence among Lesbian, Bisexual and Non-Binary Respondents in Bulgaria 2026 THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2026-10-15 18:12:19
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BULGARIA NEWS – NEWS AGENCY 2009–2026 2026-10-15 18:12:19