A recent report by GLAAD (Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) has unveiled troubling statistics concerning the escalation of anti-LGBTQ+ hate crimes across the United States throughout 2024. This data, compiled by the organisation's ALERT Desk, reveals that there were a minimum of 918 recorded anti-LGBTQ+ incidents, averaging approximately two and a half hate crimes each day.
The detailed findings indicate a wide range of incidents, with over 260 protests, 140 bomb threats, and 140 instances of vandalism, in addition to 85 reported assaults. The toll from this violence included at least 90 injuries and seven fatalities, directly tied to acts motivated by anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment. Alarmingly, the report reveals that nearly half of these incidents—specifically 447—targeted individuals from the trans, non-binary, and gender non-conforming communities.
Furthermore, GLAAD’s report highlights a significant rise in incidents related to educational environments, documenting 216 cases of violence or harassment directed at educators and school staff who expressed support for LGBTQ+ individuals.
The current findings come in the context of a broader trend of increasing anti-LGBTQ+ animosity. GLAAD had previously reported a staggering 112% surge in such incidents between June 2022 and June 2024, with over 1,850 anti-LGBTQ+ incidents tracked during this timeframe.
Sarah Kate Ellis, the president and CEO of GLAAD, described these findings as both "shocking" and "ultimately unsurprising." She indicated that the uptick in anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric and policies, propagated by elected officials and amplified through social media, has real-world consequences. “Words, proposals, and actions have consequences in the real world on real human beings, even as support for LGBTQ+ people and youth remains at supermajority levels," she stated. Ellis underscored the necessity for the creation of a society that protects LGBTQ+ individuals while also promoting inclusivity and amplifying their voices.
Compounding these concerns, data released by the FBI in September 2024 further corroborated GLAAD's findings, showing a continued increase in hate crimes targeting the LGBTQ+ community. According to the FBI’s Crime Data Explorer, there was a nearly 25% rise in hate crimes motivated by sexual orientation and gender identity over the previous year.
Source: Noah Wire Services