Anti-LGBTQ hate crimes remained high in 2024 despite an overall decline in violence and other crimes, data from the FBI’s annual crime report released Tuesday.
Attacks motivated by the victim’s sexual orientation accounted for around 17% of all hate crimes last year, while 4% were based on the victim’s gender identity. At the same time, local jurisdictions have reported a decline in all sorts of crimes, including murder, violent crimes, and car theft.
In response to the news in a press release, the Human Rights Campaign was called “particularly concern” in light of efforts by the Trump Vance administration, Congress’ GOP allies and Republican state lawmakers to “level personal attacks on LGBTQ+ and personal attacks.”
“The FBI’s 2024 hate crime data revealed a clear, visible national emergency,” said HRC President Kelly Robinson. “Everyone deserves an opportunity to be safe and prosperous in this country. But anti-equal politicians continue to spread lies about LGBTQ+ people, increasingly trying to drive us out of the margins of society.”
“These smears cost money,” she said. “The FBI has revealed a horrifying reality. Our community will remain a target of violence. It is unacceptable. LGBTQ+ people, like everyone else, can live our lives freely, pursue our careers and education, build homes, pursue America’s dreams.
“This FBI data is clear. We need more support from political leaders, not hostility or attacks that try to demonize us,” Robinson said.
With an overall decline in violent crime first appearing on the Washington Blade, posts after anti-LGBTQ hate crimes remain high: LGBTQ news, politics, LGBTQ rights, gay news.
Source: Washington Blade: LGBTQ News, Politics, LGBTQ Rights, Gay News – www.washingtonblade.com
