One in Five LGBTQ+
Persons in the U.S. Has
Experienced a Hate Crime
Hate crimes based on sexual
orientation comprised more
than a third of all hate crimes
in Florida in 2016. The Pulse
nightclub tragedy was one of
them, taking 49 lives, injuring 68
and underscoring that LGBTQ+
individuals can encounter
hate-driven violence any place,
at any time. Yet Florida’s hate
crime statute doesn’t include a
provision against violence due to
gender identity and expression.
While race is the most common
motivation for hate crimes per
capita, few realize that LGBTQ+
Floridians are at the highest risk
of being targeted. (Statistics don’t
account for unreported crimes or
unclassified hate crimes based on
gender identity or expression.)
Media and law enforcement
often underreport or perpetuate
bias, as in the 2018 murder of
Sasha Garden, an Orange County
transgender woman incorrectly
described by police and the
media as a man “wearing a wig”
and “dressed as a female.”
The Pulse nightclub attack
on the LGBTQ+ community
was one of the worst
mass shootings
in U.S. history.
Hate crimes are acts of physical violence, sexual attacks, verbal harassment
or discrimination due to an individual’s real or perceived identity. While
any violent crime is traumatizing, a hate crime sends a message of
intimidation to the community. The impact is often most evident in minority
communities, and LGBTQ+ communities are disproportionately affected.
WHAT MUST BE DONE:
1 2 3
Funding for
a designated
leadership position
in Central Florida
to address issues
related to LGTBQ+
Victim Services.
Passage of
comprehensive
hate crime laws
that include
gender identity and
gender expression
provisions.
Designation of
liaisons at law
enforcement
agencies to interact
with the LGBTQ+
community.
HATE CRIMES
Anti-LGBTQ+
homicides rose
86% in 2017 over
the previous year.
MORE
INFO:
onePulse Foundation
www.OnePulseFoundation.org
Victim Services Center
www.VictimServiceCenter.org
Equality Florida
www.eqfl.org
/www.OnePulseFoundation.org
/www.VictimServiceCenter.org
/www.eqfl.org