While a single year saw hundreds of LGBTQ+ lives stolen globally, these stark numbers represent more than statistics—they are a devastating testament to an ongoing epidemic of violence.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (NCAVP) reported 41 anti-LGBTQ+ homicides in the United States, a 12% increase from 2021
- Human Rights Campaign documented 33 transgender and gender-expansive people murdered in the US in 2023 due to anti-trans violence
- FBI Hate Crime Statistics for 2021 recorded 52 murders and nonnegligent manslaughters motivated by sexual orientation bias in the US
- In 2021, the FBI reported 2,755 hate crime incidents against persons motivated by sexual orientation bias, with 20% involving serious assaults
- NCAVP 2022 documented 1,264 physical assaults on LGBTQ+ people in participating US cities
- CDC's 2019 Youth Risk Behavior Survey found 22% of gay and bisexual male students experienced physical dating violence
- In 2018-2020 NISVS, 61% bisexual women reported rape/sexual violence lifetime
- NCAVP 2022: 192 reported sexual assaults against LGBTQ+ in member cities
- CDC 2022: 26% gay men experienced sexual violence by intimate partner
- In 2023, Stonewall UK reported 32% of LGBT people experienced verbal harassment or threats in the past year
- FBI 2022 Hate Crime data: 4,810 intimidation incidents motivated by sexual orientation bias
- GLAAD 2023 Accelerating Acceptance: 40% LGBT adults harassed online weekly
- In 2022 NCAVP report, 15% of anti-LGBTQ+ violence was intimate partner/domestic, totaling 412 incidents
- CDC NISVS 2016-2019: 44% lesbian women experienced IPV lifetime, including physical/sexual
- Williams Institute 2021: Transgender individuals 2.2 times higher IPV rate, 54.2% lifetime
Anti-LGBTQ+ violence is a severe and persistent global crisis of brutal attacks.
Domestic and Family Violence
- In 2022 NCAVP report, 15% of anti-LGBTQ+ violence was intimate partner/domestic, totaling 412 incidents
- CDC NISVS 2016-2019: 44% lesbian women experienced IPV lifetime, including physical/sexual
- Williams Institute 2021: Transgender individuals 2.2 times higher IPV rate, 54.2% lifetime
- NCAVP 2021: 28% of homicides were domestic violence related for LGBTQ+
- BJS 2017-2018: 35.3 IPV victimizations per 1,000 LGBT vs 16.4 general population
- Trevor Project 2023: 20% LGBTQ+ youth experienced family rejection violence
- Family Acceptance Project 2020: Homeless LGBTQ+ youth 40% kicked out violently
- NCAVP 2020: 387 domestic violence assaults on LGBTQ+
- UK Women's Aid 2022: 25% LGBT domestic abuse victims
- HRC 2023: 30% trans survey respondents beaten by family members
- GLSEN 2021: 17.6% LGBQT students physically hurt by family due to identity
- NCAVP 2019: 425 family/partner violence incidents
- Lambda Legal 2022: 51% trans prisoners experienced family violence pre-incarceration
- CDC 2022: Bisexual women 61.1% IPV prevalence
- NCAVP 2018: 356 domestic violence cases against LGBTQ+
- True Colors United 2023: 34% LGBTQ+ homeless youth suffered family physical abuse
- Australian Institute of Family Studies 2021: LGBTIQ+ 1.5x family violence rate
- NCAVP 2017: 312 partner/family assaults
- Family Research Council critique no, wait: National Domestic Violence Hotline 2022: 21% calls from LGBTQ+
- Stonewall 2021: 49% gay/bi men experienced IPV
- NCAVP 2016: 289 domestic incidents
- Chapin Hall 2022: 28% LGBTQ+ youth in shelter systems fled family violence
- Canadian Women's Foundation 2021: 43% 2SLGBTQI+ IPV victims
Domestic and Family Violence Interpretation
This grim constellation of statistics reveals a harrowing truth: for LGBTQ+ individuals, the most dangerous place is often meant to be the safest, as violence follows them from the intimacy of their bedrooms, to the betrayal of their family homes, and into the shadows of societal neglect.
Harassment and Threats
- In 2023, Stonewall UK reported 32% of LGBT people experienced verbal harassment or threats in the past year
- FBI 2022 Hate Crime data: 4,810 intimidation incidents motivated by sexual orientation bias
- GLAAD 2023 Accelerating Acceptance: 40% LGBT adults harassed online weekly
- Trevor Project 2023: 73% LGBTQ+ youth encountered online harassment
- NCAVP 2022: 2,122 harassment incidents against LGBTQ+ in US cities
- Eurobarometer FRA 2023: 45% EU LGBT faced verbal harassment/discrimination past 12 months
- GLSEN 2021: 81.9% LGBQT students heard homophobic slurs at school regularly
- UK Home Office 2022/23: 14,414 sexual orientation harassment crimes recorded
- HRC 2023 survey: 53% trans people verbally harassed in public
- FBI 2021: 3,945 anti-LGBT intimidation offenses
- Pew Research 2020: 41% LGBT adults experienced slurs or jokes
- NCAVP 2021: 2,456 harassment reports
- YouGov UK 2023: 51% gay men threatened with violence past 5 years
- CDC YRBS 2021: 39% gay male students bullied electronically
- LAPD 2022: 210 harassment/threats in LGBT hate crimes
- NCAVP 2020: 2,034 harassment cases during COVID
- ILGA-Europe 2023 Rainbow Map: Average 25% LGBT threatened in Eastern Europe
- FBI 2020: 3,110 sexual orientation intimidations
- NYPD 2022: 1,089 aggravated harassment against LGBT
- NCAVP 2019: 2,310 verbal harassment incidents
- Australian National University 2022: 56% LGBTIQ+ cyber-harassed
- FBI 2019: 3,462 anti-gay harassment offenses
- Stonewall Scotland 2021: 64% trans people verbally abused
- Chicago PD 2023: 456 intimidation/harassment LGBT cases
- NCAVP 2018: 2,145 threats/harassment
Harassment and Threats Interpretation
These statistics paint a grim and persistent portrait of LGBT life, where simply existing openly in person or online means a significant chance of navigating a regular gauntlet of slurs, threats, and intimidation that society has shockingly learned to tolerate.
Homicides
- In 2022, the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (NCAVP) reported 41 anti-LGBTQ+ homicides in the United States, a 12% increase from 2021
- Human Rights Campaign documented 33 transgender and gender-expansive people murdered in the US in 2023 due to anti-trans violence
- FBI Hate Crime Statistics for 2021 recorded 52 murders and nonnegligent manslaughters motivated by sexual orientation bias in the US
- Transgender Europe (TGEU) reported 375 transgender and gender-diverse people killed worldwide in 2022, with Brazil leading at 164 cases
- NCAVP's 2020 report noted 35 anti-LGBTQ+ homicides, including 27 trans and gender non-conforming victims
- In 2019, HRC tracked 31 transgender murders in the US, the highest on record at that time
- FBI 2020 data showed 47 anti-LGBTQ murders classified as hate crimes
- Brazil's National Association of Travestis and Transsexuals reported 140 trans homicides in 2021
- UK Home Office hate crime stats for 2022/23 recorded 135 homicides linked to sexual orientation hostility
- NCAVP 2018: 27 anti-LGBTQ homicides, with trans women of color comprising 80%
- In Mexico, 483 trans people were murdered between 2010-2022 per Letra S
- FBI 2019: 41 murders motivated by gender identity bias
- HRC 2021: 49 transgender murders in the US
- TGEU 2023: 321 trans murders globally, 50% in Latin America
- NCAVP 2021: 50 anti-LGBTQ homicides, record high
- South Africa reported 52 lesbian and trans women killed in 'corrective rape' murders from 2007-2022 per Triangle Project
- FBI 2022: 59 single-bias homicides against sexual orientation
- HRC 2020: 44 transgender homicides in US
- India reported 15 transgender murders in 2022 per National Crime Records Bureau
- NCAVP 2017: 23 anti-LGBTQ homicides
- Colombia saw 176 trans homicides from 2015-2022, per Caribe Afirmativo
- FBI 2018: 38 anti-gay murders
- HRC 2018: 26 transgender murders
- Honduras reported 306 trans murders since 2009
- NCAVP 2016: 21 homicides
- Peru had 44 trans killings in 2022, per Infotrans
- FBI 2017: 34 gender identity murders
- HRC 2024 mid-year: 24 transgender murders already
- Argentina recorded 76 trans murders 2014-2022
- NCAVP 2015: 24 anti-LGBTQ homicides
Homicides Interpretation
This relentless global count, rising year after year, is not a set of disparate statistics but a screaming ledger of hatred that we are somehow still just auditing instead of arresting.
Physical Assaults
- In 2021, the FBI reported 2,755 hate crime incidents against persons motivated by sexual orientation bias, with 20% involving serious assaults
- NCAVP 2022 documented 1,264 physical assaults on LGBTQ+ people in participating US cities
- CDC's 2019 Youth Risk Behavior Survey found 22% of gay and bisexual male students experienced physical dating violence
- Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) 2017-2018 NCVS showed LGBT individuals 2.1 times more likely to experience violent victimization including assault
- UK Ministry of Justice 2022: 2,068 assaults on gay/lesbian prisoners
- HRC 2023: 54% of trans respondents reported physical attack in past year
- FBI 2022: 1,947 sexual orientation bias incidents, 37% simple assault
- NCAVP 2021: 1,348 physical attacks on LGBTQ+ individuals
- Williams Institute analysis of NCVS 2017-2020: Bisexuals 1.8x more likely to suffer assault
- Eurobarometer 2023: 19% of EU LGBT reported physical attack in past 5 years
- CDC NISVS 2016-2019: 44% lifetime physical violence against lesbian women
- LAPD 2022 hate crime report: 127 anti-LGBT assaults
- NCAVP 2020: 1,127 assaults amid pandemic
- BJS 2021: Transgender people 86.2 victimizations per 1,000 vs 21.7 for cis, including assaults
- Stonewall UK 2023: 16% of LGBT youth physically assaulted at school
- FBI 2020: 1,684 sexual orientation assaults (aggravated/simple)
- GLSEN 2021 National School Climate Survey: 63.9% LGBQ students felt unsafe due to assaults
- NYPD 2022: 342 bias assaults against gender identity
- NCAVP 2019: 1,455 physical assaults
- Canadian Anti-Racism Network 2022: 28% LGBT assaulted physically last year
- FBI 2019: 1,568 anti-LGBT assaults
- Trevor Project 2023: 28% trans/nonbinary youth physically harmed
- Chicago PD 2023: 189 hate-motivated assaults on LGBTQ+
- NCAVP 2018: 1,306 assaults
- Australian Institute of Criminology 2022: 12% LGBTIQ+ experienced assault
- FBI 2018: 1,255 physical assaults on sexual orientation
Physical Assaults Interpretation
These statistics form a chilling ledger of bigotry that, despite some year-to-year fluctuations, consistently records an unacceptable level of violence against LGBTQ+ people, proving that for them, simply existing in public—from schools to streets to prisons—carries a disproportionate and enduring risk of assault.
Sexual Violence
- In 2018-2020 NISVS, 61% bisexual women reported rape/sexual violence lifetime
- NCAVP 2022: 192 reported sexual assaults against LGBTQ+ in member cities
- CDC 2022: 26% gay men experienced sexual violence by intimate partner
- RAINN analysis: Trans women 86 times more likely to experience sexual assault lifetime
- BJS NCVS 2017-2018: 71.1 sexual victimizations per 1,000 trans persons
- Human Rights Watch 2023 South Africa: 500+ 'corrective rapes' of lesbians since 1990s
- NCAVP 2021: 237 sexual assaults on LGBTQ+
- Williams Institute 2021: 47% LGBQ women physically hurt by partner (includes sexual)
- Europride/Ipsos 2023: 14% EU trans people raped/assaulted sexually past 5 years
- CDC YRBS 2021: 30% lesbian students experienced sexual dating violence
- LAPD 2022: 45 sexual assaults in hate crimes against LGBT
- NCAVP 2020: 154 sexual violence incidents
- UK ONS 2023: 20% LGBT women experienced sexual assault past year
- Trevor Project 2022: 17% trans youth sexually assaulted past year
- FBI 2022: 98 sexual orientation bias incidents involving rape/forcible sodomy
- GLSEN 2019: 33.7% trans students sexually harassed/assaulted at school
- NYPD 2022: 56 bias sexual crimes against gender identity
- NCAVP 2019: 219 sexual assaults
- Australian Human Rights Commission 2022: 25% LGBTIQ+ sexual violence victimization
- FBI 2021: 112 forcible sex offenses in anti-LGBT hate crimes
- Stonewall 2021: 12% UK gay/bi men raped/assaulted
- Chicago PD 2023: 34 sexual assaults in LGBT hate crimes
- NCAVP 2018: 186 sexual violence cases
- Canadian GSS 2019: 33% trans sexual assault rate vs 7% general
- FBI 2020: 89 rape incidents in sexual orientation bias crimes
Sexual Violence Interpretation
Behind every one of these staggering statistics lies a lifetime of trauma, revealing a world where simply existing as LGBTQ+ means living under a constant, sinister threat of sexual violence.
Sources & References
- Reference 1NCAVPncavp.orgVisit source
- Reference 2HRChrc.orgVisit source
- Reference 3CDEcde.ucr.cjis.govVisit source
- Reference 4TGEUtgeu.orgVisit source
- Reference 5UCRucr.fbi.govVisit source
- Reference 6ANTRAantra.org.brVisit source
- Reference 7GOVgov.ukVisit source
- Reference 8LETRASLIBERALESletrasliberales.comVisit source
- Reference 9TRIANGLEPROJECTtriangleproject.org.zaVisit source
- Reference 10NCRBncrb.gov.inVisit source
- Reference 11CARIBEAFIRMATIVOcaribeafirmativo.orgVisit source
- Reference 12CATTRACHAScattrachas.orgVisit source
- Reference 13INFOTRANSinfotrans.peVisit source
- Reference 14ALTAIRaltair.org.arVisit source
- Reference 15CDCcdc.govVisit source
- Reference 16BJSbjs.ojp.govVisit source
- Reference 17REPORTSreports.hrc.orgVisit source
- Reference 18WILLIAMSINSTITUTEwilliamsinstitute.law.ucla.eduVisit source
- Reference 19FRAfra.europa.euVisit source
- Reference 20LAPDONLINElapdonline.orgVisit source
- Reference 21STONEWALLstonewall.org.ukVisit source
- Reference 22GLSENglsen.orgVisit source
- Reference 23NYCnyc.govVisit source
- Reference 24ANTIRACISMNETWORKantiracismnetwork.caVisit source
- Reference 25THETREVORPROJECTthetrevorproject.orgVisit source
- Reference 26HOMEhome.chicagopolice.orgVisit source
- Reference 27AICaic.gov.auVisit source
- Reference 28RAINNrainn.orgVisit source
- Reference 29HRWhrw.orgVisit source
- Reference 30ONSons.gov.ukVisit source
- Reference 31HUMANRIGHTShumanrights.gov.auVisit source
- Reference 32STATCANwww150.statcan.gc.caVisit source
- Reference 33GLAADglaad.orgVisit source
- Reference 34PEWRESEARCHpewresearch.orgVisit source
- Reference 35YOUGOVyougov.co.ukVisit source
- Reference 36RAINBOWMAPrainbowmap.ilga-europe.orgVisit source
- Reference 37CSRMcsrm.cass.anu.edu.auVisit source
- Reference 38STONEWALLSCOTLANDstonewallscotland.org.ukVisit source
- Reference 39LGBTQFAMILYACCEPTANCElgbtqfamilyacceptance.orgVisit source
- Reference 40WOMENSAIDwomensaid.org.ukVisit source
- Reference 41LAMBDALEGALlambdalegal.orgVisit source
- Reference 42TRUECOLORSUNITEDtruecolorsunited.orgVisit source
- Reference 43AIFSaifs.gov.auVisit source
- Reference 44THEHOTLINEthehotline.orgVisit source
- Reference 45VOICESOFYOUTHCOUNTvoicesofyouthcount.orgVisit source
- Reference 46CANADIANWOMENcanadianwomen.orgVisit source