A new report from Bulgaria examines how appearance, gender expression and sexual orientation shape the abuse faced by lesbians, bisexual people and non-binary people attracted to women. Its findings matter because much of the harassment happens in public, while many survivors never approach the police or health services for help.

Essential Takeaways

  • Violence is widespread: 93% of respondents said they had experienced at least one form of harassment or abuse.
  • Verbal abuse leads: 79% reported verbal harassment, followed by sexual violence at 68%.
  • Public spaces feel risky: Incidents most often involved strangers and happened outside the home.
  • Reporting remains rare: Eight in ten lesbian respondents said they hadn't reported abuse to institutions.
  • Support gaps persist: LGBT organisations are often approached before police or medical services.

Appearance can become a trigger for abuse

The sharpest finding is also one of the most revealing: appearance and gender expression are among the most common reasons people in Bulgaria's LGBT community face harassment. That means abuse isn't directed only at someone's perceived sexuality. Clothes, mannerisms and the way a person presents themselves can also become targets.

The study, presented by the NGO Lespectra, focuses on lesbophobia, a form of prejudice shaped by misogyny, sexism and hostility towards non-conforming sexual orientations. It offers a useful reminder that identity-based violence is rarely one-dimensional. A person may be targeted because they're a woman, because they're perceived as queer, or because they don't fit familiar expectations of femininity.

Human rights organisations, including the Bulgarian Helsinki Committee, have long documented discrimination and hostility affecting LGBT people in Bulgaria. The pattern is uncomfortable but familiar: everyday prejudice can create an atmosphere in which more serious abuse is easier to ignore.

The numbers show a broad pattern of harm

The research was carried out between April and July 2025, combining a survey of 147 adults with nine in-depth interviews. Participants had lived in Bulgaria for at least one year during the previous five years and identified as women, non-binary people or another identity, with attraction to women included in the eligibility criteria.

Overall, 93% said they'd experienced at least one type of harassment or violence during their lifetime. Verbal abuse was the most common at 79%, followed by sexual violence at 68%, online abuse at 49%, threats at 44% and physical violence at 39%.

Those figures sit within a wider human rights landscape. The US State Department's country reporting has previously raised concerns about discrimination and the protection of vulnerable groups in Bulgaria, while Amnesty International continues to monitor the country's record on equality and safety. For readers, the important point is simple: these aren't isolated unpleasant encounters. They form a repeated pattern across streets, workplaces, social settings and digital spaces.

Why so many incidents go unreported

Perhaps the most worrying statistic is that eight in ten lesbian respondents didn't report abuse or harassment to an institution. When people do seek help after physical violence, discrimination or sexual harassment, they're more likely to contact an LGBT organisation than the police or a health service.

That choice says plenty about trust. Reporting abuse can mean retelling a distressing experience, explaining one's identity, and worrying about being dismissed or blamed. If the expected response feels cold, confusing or unsafe, staying silent can seem like the least damaging option.

The OECD's recent work on social support in Bulgaria also underlines the importance of accessible services for vulnerable households. Support isn't just about having a law on the books. It depends on whether people can find a knowledgeable professional, receive a respectful response and get practical help without facing another round of judgement.

Public places and online spaces both need attention

Most of the harassment recorded in the study took place in public, often involving strangers. That detail brings the issue close to ordinary life: a bus stop, a shopping street, a bar or a park can all become settings for intimidation when someone feels entitled to police another person's appearance.

Online abuse adds a second layer. Nearly half of respondents reported experiencing it, yet legal and institutional responses can struggle to keep pace with digital harassment. The Bulgarian Helsinki Committee has highlighted the broader importance of effective protection for LGBT people, while rights groups across Europe have pushed for clearer action against online threats and targeted abuse.

The problem is not simply that offensive comments exist. Repeated messages, threats, outing and sexualised abuse can affect where people go, whom they meet and how openly they live. A phone screen may look quiet, but the fear it creates can follow someone everywhere.

What could improve protection?

The report's recommendations include an intersectional approach that considers both homophobia and misogyny. It also calls for stronger domestic abuse protections, wider legal recognition of gender identity and expression, better rules covering online harassment, and specialist training for police, prosecutors and judges dealing with hate crimes.

Education is another major part of the discussion. Bulgaria drew international criticism after parliament approved restrictions on what it described as LGBT propaganda in schools, a move reported by LGBTQ Nation in 2024. Critics argued that limiting discussion can make young people less informed and leave hostile myths unchallenged.

The report also recommends recognising so-called corrective sexual violence and allowing open, age-appropriate discussion of sexual orientation in education. None of these changes is a quick fix, but together they point towards a system that treats targeted abuse as a serious social and legal issue rather than a private inconvenience.

The next test will be whether institutions can turn recommendations into routine practice. People shouldn't have to choose between silence and explaining their identity to an organisation that may not understand what happened.

Small changes in trust, training and reporting access could make a substantial difference.