Everytown Report Highlights Impact of Gun Violence on LGBTQ+ Communities

Today is National Coming Out Day and October Marks LGBTQ+ History Month

In an Average Year, More than 25,000 Hate Crimes in the United States Involve a Firearm — 69 a Day 

Report Shows LGBTQ+ Populations Face Higher Risks of Gun Violence Than Straight and Cisgender Populations

NEW YORK — Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund, in collaboration with Human Rights Campaign and Equality Federation, today released a report detailing the impact of gun violence 

on LGBTQ+ communities. The report draws upon data from the Bureau of Justice Statistics’ National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS), which reveals the widespread threat of hate-fueled gun violence towards marginalized communities, finding that more than 25,000 hate crimes each year involve a gun. Everytown’s report also highlights the disproportionate impact of gun violence on members of the LGBTQ+ community, especially Black transgender women, as well as the immense harm and trauma caused by this violence. LGBTQ+ people continue to be targeted because of who they are and according to  the Southern Poverty Law Center, the number of anti-LGBTQ+ hate groups increased by 43 percent from 2018 to 2019. 

“Hate-motivated gun violence is a frightening and pervasive reality — and this report underscores the tremendous toll this violence takes on LGBTQ+ communities,” said Becky George, Senior Advisor for Movement Building at Everytown for Gun Safety. “To protect LGBTQ+ people and save lives, we must employ a comprehensive, multi-faceted approach that not only prevents easy access to firearms, but also addresses the threat of extremist violence targeting LGBTQ+ communities.” 

“Research makes it clear that hate is more deadly when a gun is involved, especially violence targeting LGBTQ+ people, who are already disproportionately impacted by gun violence” said Sarah Burd-Sharps, Senior Director of Research at Everytown for Gun Safety. “To honor the countless LGBTQ+ lives stolen or forever changed by hate and violence, we must take action to protect communities from gun violence and extremism. 

“This report shows what we have sadly learned to be true: when LGBTQ+ people’s rights and existence are up for debate, it creates a culture in which hate-motivated crimes are commonplace,” said Fran Hutchins, Executive Director at Equality Federation. “Easy access to firearms coupled with state lawmakers who are fueling anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric and attacks on transgender rights has created an environment that can be deadly for our community.”

“As this report shows, gun violence is an LGBTQ+ issue,” said Jay Brown, Senior Vice President, Programs, Research & Training at Human Rights Campaign. “Amidst a backdrop of rising levels of anti-LGBTQ+ violence and dangerous disinformation campaigns about LGBTQ+ people, it is essential that we educate the public about the urgency of common-sense gun safety measures for our community. We appreciate the partnership with Everytown on this critical issue and the work they’re doing to ignite the grassroots and lawmakers to ultimately save lives.” 

Key findings from the report:

• In an average year, more than 25,000 hate crimes in the U.S. involve a firearm—69 a day. 
• An analysis of Everytown’s Transgender Homicide Tracker reveals that homicides of trans and gender-nonconforming people in the U.S. and Puerto Rico have been on the rise for the last several years.
  • From 2017 to 2021, there was a 93 percent increase in incidents of tracked transgender homicide (from 29 incidents in 2017 to 56 incidents in 2021). During this period, 73 percent of the trans people killed were killed with a gun.
  • While just 13 percent of the trans population in the United States is estimated to be Black, 73 percent of known trans homicide victims were Black women.
• A 2022 Trevor Project survey showed that 45 percent of LGBTQ+ youth have seriously considered a suicide attempt in the past year and nearly one in five transgender and nonbinary youth had attempted suicide. 
• Members of the LGBTQ+ community continue to be the target of hate-fueled violence for being who they are. Lesbian and gay people are more than twice as likely to experience violent victimization as straight people. Transgender people are more than twice as likely to be the victims of violence as cisgender people, and bisexual people are seven times as likely to experience violent victimization as straight people.

The full report is available here. To speak with an expert or volunteers with Moms Demand Action, and / or Students Demand Action, please do not hesitate to reach out. 

If you or someone you know is in crisis, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, a national network of local crisis centers that provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24/7. 1-800-273-TALK (8255) suicidepreventionlifeline.org. You may also contact the Crisis Text Line, which provides trained crisis counseling services over text 24/7. Text HOME to 741741 from anywhere in the US crisistextline.org

Free and confidential mental health, suicide prevention, and crisis intervention services and resources are also available to people in-need of help, loved ones of those in-need, and frontline workers through the Pandemic Crisis Services Response Coalition at https://www.covidmentalhealthsupport.org