Disability, Gender Identity, and Sexual Orientation: An Intersectional Analysis Assessing Perceived Threat of Hate Crimes

The current study examines the intersections between disability, gender identity, and sexual orientation in relation to the perceived threat of hate crimes against these identities. Results based on a purposive sample of 1824 adults recruited from Amazon’s Mechanical Turk show that persons with a disability perceive greater threat of hate crimes. When considering disability with gender identity and sexual orientation, perceived threat is exacerbated when persons with a disability also identify as gender and sexual minorities. Findings suggest that the perceived threat of hate crimes can be compounded when persons with a disability also belong to other marginalized groups.