LGBTQ+ hate crimes on rise

Reported hate crimes against LGBTQ+ communities continue to rise at alarming rates, according to Attorney General Rob Bonta, despite overall reported hate crimes decreasing by 7.1 percent in 2023 versus 2022. Data reported to DOJ in 2023 shows that between 2022 and 2023, there were 405 reported hate crime events motivated by sexual orientation bias (an increase of 3.6 percent from the previous year) and 76 hate crime events motivated by anti-transgender or anti-gender-nonconforming bias (an increase of 7.04 percent from last year).
“We understand that hate crimes don’t happen in a vacuum, but as a violation of people’s civil rights, and that’s why the Civil Rights Department is directly involved with hate crimes,”said Becky Monroe, deputy director of Strategic Initiatives and External Affairs. “We enforce protection against employment and housing discrimination. We also provide civil legal support and services in all aspects of hate crimes.”
In Los Angeles County, 664 hate crime incidents in 2023 resulted in 748 offenses against 744 victims. In a prosecutorial survey response by Los Angeles County prosecutors, 77 total cases were filed as hate crimes, leading to 16 total convictions.
“There has been an increase of 10 percent of crimes against Transgenders and non-binary people and a six percent increase towards gay and lesbian people,”Monroe said, speaking about the data the department gathered in the past year. “The numbers we have are an understatement to the truth as a lot of assaults and crimes don’t get reported, and some altercations or situations don’t always warrant a hate charge because there wasn’t enough evidence for the court and department to label it one.”
This year alone, 19 Black transgender died due to assault from people close to them. On average, per year, 69 percent of transgenders people experience a violent crime towards them. Out of the total, 40 percent of the victims are Black trans people. “Since 2013, 85 percent of transgender people that experience assault or death were Black,”said Toni Newman, a member of the Black Leadership Council director of the Coalition for Justice and Equality Across Movements. “Black transgenders experience crime at such a high rate because of their assault
intersection with racism, sexual orientation hate, and sexual assault.”
Newman also advocates for better workplace environments and practices as Transgenders people face a difficult time getting jobs, receive less pay, experience malpractices at work, and don’t receive the proper benefits.
“Everyone has a part to play as we continue to fight prejudice and create safer communities in California,”Bonta added. “I urge everyone to review the data and resources available and recommit to standing united against hate.”