Fact check: What are crime statistics for violence against gays?

1. Summary of the results

The analyses provided indicate a concerning trend of violence against the LGBTQ+ community, with LGBT people being five times more likely to be victims of violent crime ^[1] and nine times more likely to experience violent hate crimes than non-LGBT people ^[1]. The FBI's 2024 hate crime data shows that attacks based on a victim's sexual orientation made up 17.2% of all hate crimes, and 4% were based on gender identity ^[2]. The number of recorded incidents relating to an alleged victim's sexual orientation was 1,950, and 463 relating to an alleged victim's gender identity ^[2]. Additionally, the FBI tracked 2,413 single-bias anti-LGBTQ hate crime incidents in the US in 2024 ^[3]. The National Crime Victimization Survey (2022-2023) found that LGBT people experienced 106.4 violent victimizations per 1,000 persons ^[1]. The Human Rights Campaign reports a 16% increase in attacks based on gender identity and a 23% increase in attacks based on sexual orientation ^[4]. GLAAD's ALERT Desk tracked at least 918 anti-LGBTQ incidents across the US in 2024 ^[5].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Some analyses highlight the disproportionate impact of violence on transgender and gender-nonconforming people, with more than half of the incidents targeting these groups ^[6]. However, the original statement does not provide context on the geographical distribution of these crimes, which could be an important factor in understanding the scope of the issue ^{[1] [2] [3]}. Furthermore, the analyses do not provide information on the response of law enforcement agencies to these crimes, which could be crucial in addressing the issue ^{[2] [1] [6]}. The Human Rights Campaign and GLAAD reports emphasize the need for increased awareness and action to address the rising trend of anti-LGBTQ+ hate crimes ^{[4] [5]}. Alternative viewpoints, such as the perspective of local governments and educators, are also important in understanding the complexities of the issue ^[6].

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original statement does not provide a clear definition of what constitutes a hate crime, which could lead to inconsistent reporting and tracking of these crimes ^{[1] [2]}. The analyses from different sources may have different methodologies and criteria for tracking hate crimes, which could result in inconsistent data and potential misinformation ^{[2] [1] [6]}. The emphasis on the increase in hate crimes may create a sense of alarm and perpetuate a narrative of victimhood, which could be counterproductive in addressing the issue ^{[4] [7]}. The Human Rights Campaign and GLAAD may benefit from emphasizing the need for increased awareness and action, as it aligns with their organizational goals and advocacy efforts ^{[4] [5]}. Law enforcement agencies and local governments may benefit from a more nuanced understanding of the issue, as it could inform their response and policies to address the rising trend of anti-LGBTQ+ hate crimes ^{[2] [1] [6]}.