GLAAD Report Documents Over 1,000 Anti-LGBTQ+ Incidents in 2025, Marking Rise in Violence Against Transgender People

The GLAAD Anti-LGBTQ Extremism Reporting Tracker, known as the ALERT Desk, has documented 1,042 anti-LGBTQ+ incidents in 2025 across 47 states and Washington, D.C., representing a 5% increase from the 984 incidents recorded in 2024. These incidents encompassed 128 acts of vandalism, 76 assaults, 22 threats of mass violence, and 15 arson attempts.

Over half of the incidents, totaling 532, specifically targeted transgender and gender non-conforming people, reflecting a 10% rise from the 485 such cases in 2024. The report describes 2025 as "one of the most dangerous years on record for LGBTQ Americans," attributing heightened risks to increased visibility amid rising anti-LGBTQ+ incidents nationwide.

Pride events emerged as particular flashpoints, with 268 incidents logged in June 2025 alone—a nearly 400% increase from the 54 incidents in June 2022, when GLAAD began systematic data collection. California led with 198 incidents, followed by New Hampshire , Texas , Ohio , and Washington .

In Los Angeles, law enforcement data corroborated a sharp uptick in anti-LGBTQ+ hate crimes, coinciding with a period when California Governor Gavin Newsom hosted figures known for anti-transgender views, such as Ben Shapiro and Charlie Kirk, on his podcast. This local trend aligns with broader findings from the Los Angeles County Commission on Human Relations, which reported 1,355 hate crimes countywide in 2024—the second-highest total in 44 years—with record levels against LGBTQ+ individuals, including 102 anti-transgender crimes and a 275% increase in attacks on non-binary people .

Statewide in California, the Department of Justice's State of Pride Report 2025 noted a 13.9% rise in anti-LGBTQ+ bias events and a 12.3% increase in anti-transgender bias events from 2023 to 2024. Nationally, the FBI's 2024 hate crime statistics, released August 5, 2025, recorded 11,679 incidents involving 14,243 victims, showing overall stability from 2023 but persistent high levels of anti-LGBTQ+ violence despite declines in general crime.

GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis addressed the findings in a statement: “Americans should refuse to accept a country where our neighbors fear for their safety. With the ALERT Desk data showing an increase in violence against LGBTQ people, especially transgender Americans, we must join together in a united call against the violence and harassment that too many LGBTQ Americans face. Instead of growing divides that lead to this violence, politicians should recognize that all Americans deserve freedom, fairness, and safety.”

Community advocates emphasize the disproportionate impact on transgender and gender non-conforming individuals, who faced over half of all tracked incidents, underscoring the need for enhanced protections and awareness. The Williams Institute at UCLA has similarly highlighted elevated violent victimization rates among LGBTQ+ people, with transgender individuals experiencing 93.7 incidents per 1,000 compared to 21.1 for non-LGBT persons, based on 2022-2023 data. These reports collectively signal ongoing challenges for LGBTQ+ safety, particularly during visibility events like Pride, prompting calls from organizations for policy responses prioritizing freedom and security for all.