LGBTIQ+ hate crime
A hate crime is a crime that is committed against a person or property because of their:
- political beliefs
- nationality
- ethnicity
- race
- skin colour
- religion
- world view
- origin
- disability
- social status
- gender/gender identity
- sexual identity
- external appearance
Perpetrators of hate crimes seek out people based on prejudices and attack these people as a way of attacking a group of people. This means that their actions affect the entire group and are intended to have an impact within society. It is also possible for several of the aspects described above to be involved, e.g. if someone is attacked because of their sexual identity and their nationality. Perpetrators may be strangers or they may be known to the person being targeted, e.g. neighbours or colleagues.
Hate crimes constitute politically motivated crimes. According to the German Federal Ministry of the Interior, politically motivated crimes pose a serious threat to our free and democratic way of life. That means that politically motivated crimes may be subject to harsher penalties on account of their particularly serious nature. In Germany, they fall under the jurisdiction of the federal police and are recorded in separate, standardised national statistics in order to identify trends and tendencies early. It is therefore particularly important to report LGBTIQ+ hate crimes to the police.
As in the previous year, the Federal Police Crime Statistics indicate a significant rise in crimes against LGBTIQ* people. The 854 cases recorded in 2023 in relation to gender diversity represent more than double the level in 2022 (417 reports). Of those 854 cases, 117 were categorised as violent crimes, e.g. (serious) physical injury. Sexual orientation-related cases also increased, rising from 1,005 cases in 2022 to 1,499 in 2023, of which 288 were classified as violent crimes. Source
In Bavaria, the police recorded an increase in crimes committed against LGBTIQ* people from 96 in 2022 to 190 in 2023. The Munich Security Report also contains striking figures regarding the increase in assaults. The number of cases reported in relation to gender diversity have more than tripled – from 15 in 2022 to 47 in 2023. Six of these cases involved acts of violent. Actions motivated by sexual orientation rose from 30 in 2022 to 77 this year. 15 of these cases involved acts of violence. The Munich Police have been recording reports of LGBTIQ* hate crimes in their annual Safety Report since 2018. Source
Strong! – The LGBTIQ* Centre Against Violence and Discrimination – received a total of 230 reports in 2023, an increase of 71 compared to the previous year. The primary motivation in 95 cases was homophobia or biphobia, while in 27 cases it was transphobia or interphobia. 41 cases were categorised as anti-LGBTIQ* because they involved expressions of generally hostile attitudes towards the LGBTIQ* community. Complaints were filed with regards to a total of 45 of the 230 cases; in 24 cases it is unclear whether a complaint was filed; and no complaint was filed with regards to 161 incidents. Public transport, nightlife, gastronomy, events and the internet are the areas where most assaults took place. The crimes reported to Strong! ranged from actual attacks, such as (serious) physical injury, sexual assault and rape, to threats and blackmailing, property damage and insults or non-verbal violence.
Sources: Jahresbericht sub e.V. 2023
I can find the Munich Police Safety Reports here