Statistics released by the Home Office last week show an 11% increase in reported hate crimes against transgender people in the UK. Reports of hate crimes against trans people rose from 2,253 in the years 2018-2019 to 4,732 in 2022-2023. 

These statistics are stark and appalling, but unfortunately are only the tip of the iceberg. The government’s own research shows that over 90% of anti-LGBTQ+ hate crimes go unreported, so we know that police hate crime statistics will never be able to reflect the danger facing LGBTQ+ young people in the UK.

Galop, the UK’s LGBTQ+ anti-abuse charity, saw a 65% increase in LGBTQ+ hate crime victims coming to them for support in the last year alone. Even if hate crimes are reported, we know that the amount of support available for victims is often lacking. This is exacerbated if services are not tailored to the specific needs of a minority group like LGBTQ+ people.

The National Scoping of LGBT Youth Homelessness report published by akt in 2015 showed that 24% of young people aged 16-25 in the UK who are at risk of or experiencing homelessness are LGBTQ+.

Many of these young people will have experienced some form of abuse.

Much of this will go unreported and can exist within the family home. 78% of the young people akt works with cited an absence of family support after coming out as the primary reason for their homelessness.*

The abuse and discrimination that young people face often does not end when they leave home. Young people experiencing homelessness are also more susceptible to hate crimes and discrimination.

Yesterday’s hate crime figures are a reminder that we need to protect young LGBTQ+ people from unsafe environments.

Now, more than ever it's important that we build critical pathways into safe, affordable, and inclusive housing for LGBTQ+ young people.

If you are in need of support around LGBTQ+ abuse or hate crimes, please contact Galop. To find out more about how akt supports young LGBTQ+ people at risk of homelessness, please visit our homepage.