LGBTQIA+ Hate Crimes and State Non-Discrimination Policies: An Analysis

While LGBTQIA+ rights have been increasing in the United States for decades, many states do not have non-discrimination policies that protect individuals based on their gender identity and sexual orientation. This lack in protection leaves many LGBTQIA+ individuals vulnerable to experiencing discrimination and harassment, which could lead to hate crimes, cultivating an environment of passive tolerance rather than active resistance. Active resistance can be achieved through the passage of non-discrimination policies, as well as addressing minority stress that LGBTQIA+ individuals can be susceptible to when they are actively experiencing or anticipating discrimination and harassment. This research paper addresses whether the strength of non-discrimination policies effects the number of anti-LGBTQIA+ hate crimes in each state, which no other research study has done. The findings of this study conclude that there is no statistically significant relationship between the strength of non-discrimination policies and the number of anti-LGBTQIA+ hate crimes in each state. Further research is needed to examine these variables and see if these findings can be substantiated or disproved.