A sobering new report reveals that over 1,000 anti-LGBTQ+ incidents took place across the United States in 2025, marking one of the most dangerous years for queer Americans on record.
The data, released by ALERT Desk, the Anti-LGBTQ Extremism Reporting Tracker from GLAAD, documented 1,042 individual attacks spanning 47 states and Washington, DC — a 5% increase from 2024’s tally of 984.
The spike in violence coincided with the January inauguration of Donald Trump, whose administration has been widely criticised for fuelling anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric and attempting to erase transgender identities from public policy.
Violence, Vandalism and Hate on the Rise
Of the recorded incidents:
- 128 involved vandalism
- 76 were physical assaults
- 22 included threats of mass violence
- 15 attempted arsons
Over 50% of attacks targeted transgender and gender non-conforming individuals, a sharp 10% rise from 2024. These figures support long-standing findings from the Williams Institute, which reports that trans people are four times more likely to be victims of violent crime than their cisgender counterparts.
GLAAD labelled 2025 as “one of the most dangerous years on record for LGBTQ Americans.”
“Americans should refuse to accept a country where our neighbours fear for their safety,” said Sarah Kate Ellis, GLAAD President and CEO.
“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.”
Pride Events Targeted
Pride Month — a time meant to celebrate LGBTQ+ visibility — saw an alarming rise in hostility.
There were 268 anti-LGBTQ+ incidents in June 2025, most of them targeting Pride parades and festivals. This marks a staggering 400% increase from the 54 incidents logged during Pride Month in 2022, when GLAAD first began tracking such data.
Where Attacks Occurred Most
The highest number of incidents were reported in:
- California (198)
- New Hampshire (72)
- Texas (66)
- Ohio (50)
- Washington State (50)
The Los Angeles area, in particular, witnessed a significant rise in anti-LGBTQ+ attacks.
In one of the most harrowing years in recent memory, 2025 also saw several high-profile violent crimes:
- A gay man was shot and paralysed in Florida
- A trans woman was brutally beaten in Washington State
- A gay man was attacked with a baseball bat and left for dead in Boston
- A trans woman was fatally shot in Washington, DC, after confronting men who harassed her
These stories mirror wider trends: an FBI report in 2024 noted a 49% increase in hate crimes targeting gay men over the previous year.
GLAAD Urges Political Action
GLAAD placed blame, in part, on the Trump administration’s ongoing marginalisation of LGBTQ+ people.
“Instead of growing divides that lead to this violence,” Ellis stated, “politicians should recognise that all Americans deserve freedom, fairness, and safety.”
The report has intensified calls for stronger protections and legislative action, as advocates continue to push back against hate-fuelled violence targeting the queer community.
