FBI Reports Spike In LGBTQ Hate Crimes

In a new FBI report attacks based on gender identity is up 16% from the prior year, attacks based on sexual orientation is up 23% with race & ethnicity-based hate crimes remain the largest category with more than 1 in 5 hate crimes motivated by anti-LGBTQ bias. Even as violence in the nation overall is continuing to drop reports of hate crime incidents targeting people for their sexual orientation or gender identity are rising. Kelley Robinson, Human Rights Campaign President stated, “Every lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender & queer person in this country should be free to live their lives without fear that we’ll be the target of a violent incident purely because of who we are & who we love. Unfortunately, the latest FBI hate crimes data shows that even as public acceptance of LGBTQ+ people continues to grow & overall crime continues to decline, hate crimes against us are not yet showing signs of subsiding. Make no mistake, politicians who spread disinformation & demonize our lives are contributing to this violence. This trend needs to end. LGBTQ+ people need full non-discrimination protections in law, nationwide. All law enforcement agencies must commit to fully reporting data on hate crimes in their communities & politicians & community leaders across the country need to stop lying about our community & inciting hatred against us. We must turn the tide so that LGBTQ+ people can feel safe everywhere.” The FBI’s report noted that there were 2,402 recorded incidents relating to an alleged victim’s sexual orientation in 2023 up from 1,947 the year before & 547 relating to an alleged victim’s gender identity compared with 469 the year before.