The ALERT Desk tracked over 1,850 anti-LGBTQ incidents in the US between June 1, 2022 and June 1, 2024, resulting in more than 160 injuries and 20 deaths. Visit the ALERT Desk here.
In 2024, LGBTQ Americans face a paradox. Our population is growing, with LGBTQ people making up 7.6% of US adults and 22.3% of Gen Z. Our stories are visible, with 27.3% of films by major distributors portraying one or more LGBTQ characters. Our right to love freely is codified nationally, with the passage of the Respect for Marriage Act in late 2022. And a supermajority of Americans continue to support LGBTQ people and our right to live free from fear.
And yet – LGBTQ Americans continue to face soaring levels of hate and extremism targeting us for who we are, and our allies for supporting us. Over 500 anti-LGBTQ bills have been introduced in state legislatures across the country, including bans / restrictions targeting drag events, LGBTQ-inclusive school curricula, and transgender medical care. School districts in state after state are facing thousands of attempted book bans targeting diverse, LGBTQ-inclusive stories. And most tragically, we’ve seen at least 25 transgender and gender non-conforming people killed in the US in 2024, 72% of which were people of color.
In response to the dramatic rise in anti-LGBTQ hate, GLAAD has launched its Anti-LGBTQ Extremism Reporting Tracker (ALERT). The ALERT Desk serves as a central hub for resources and original reporting on hate and extremism impacting LGBTQ people in the US, tracking anti-LGBTQ incidents nationwide. These incidents include both criminal and non-criminal expressions of hate – from protests at drag shows, to sprees of vandalism targeting Pride flags, to bomb threats against health care providers of transgender patients. Through careful analysis of this data, the ALERT Desk provides in-depth information to keep the community aware and safe, as well as resources for key stakeholders fighting against anti-LGBTQ hate at the local, state, and federal levels.
GLAAD President & CEO, Sarah Kate Ellis:“Too many anti-LGBTQ incidents go unreported and uninvestigated, as survivors navigate fears of retaliation and forced outing, fraught relationships with law enforcement, and media coverage that fails to recognize the importance of accurately reporting on LGBTQ identities. The ALERT Desk seeks to challenge these narratives by providing a dedicated space for these stories, so that we can take the first steps towards recognizing and combating anti-LGBTQ hate in the US.”
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The ALERT Desk also features the testimonials of those most impacted by this hate. Hear from some of these courageous advocates and leaders below:
From Ed Sanders, Survivor of Club Q Shooting
Ed Sanders
“Bartenders Daniel and Derrick, who were both murdered in cold blood right before my eyes that night, took care of all of us family at Club Q. They were listening ears, and kind souls. They both always poured my drinks the way I liked them. When I stayed out later, they would make sure I got home safe, often even driving me home themselves. But that night I left Club Q not with a ride from a good friend, but in an ambulance as multiple bullet wounds in my body bled.
I was at Club Q the first weekend it opened. While I’m sure the shooter thinks he took our spirit that night he took our friends away forever, but he didn’t. We are healing. We are stronger than ever. We are more committed to love and the family we created. You cannot destroy our community by killing individuals. You can’t kill our love and our spirit, because Love Wins.”
From Dr. Izzy Lowell (she/her), Founder of QueerMed:
Dr. Izzy Lowell
“Our office was burnt to the ground by arsonists in late 2023, followed by the Texas attorney general’s unlawful attempt to access our patient data. We refused to comply, and will not ever disclose HIPAA-protected data. We at QueerMed will never stop providing affirming medical care for transgender and nonbinary people, despite physical attacks and unfounded government threats.”
From Bamby Salcedo, President & CEO of TheTransLatin@ Coalition:
Bamby Salcedo
“Trans, gender nonconforming and intersex (TGI) people continue to be under attack. Our organization has received bomb threats and receives hate mail simply because of who we are and how we are supporting members of our community. As the biggest trans-led organization in the United States, we have a responsibility to our community and to our people… We will continue to organize and strategize for us to have a better quality of life.”
From Salina EsTitties, RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 15:
Salina EsTitties
“During my season [on RuPaul’s Drag Race], not only was I getting hate from anti-drag, anti-queer keyboard warriors, but I was also getting so much racially-charged hate for showcasing and being so vocal about my Latinness on the show. From death threats to straight out uncalled for comments and DMs saying I should kill myself, quit drag, or that God was punishing me and that’s why my mother passed away during my season. Just insane stuff that I still every now and again encounter on my feed.”
From Dr. Jack Turban, Pediatric Psychiatrist and Director of the Gender Psychiatry Program at the University of California, San Francisco:
Dr. Jack Turban
“All youth and all families deserve access to healthcare without feeling unsafe or intimidated. The recent rise in violent rhetoric and misinformation about trans youth has real life consequences. Hospitals and clinics around the country have had repeated bomb threats. Innocent families are fearing for their safety. I personally have had more death threats than I can count (including ones directed at my family and dog). The threats are awful, but they won’t work. As physicians, we are always going to continue to support the families who need us.”
From Marti Gould Cummings (they/them), Nationally Recognized Drag Artist and Former Candidate for NYC City Council:
Marti Gould Cummings
“As a drag artist who works both in the drag and political realm, I have experienced thousands of death threats over the last several years correlated to the introduction of anti-LGBTQ legislation. I’ve experienced everything from being sent photos of nooses, to threats towards my shows, to protestors gathering in-person at Pride events where I’ve performed. It’s easy to ignore online harassment until it’s too late, when it translates into real-world massacres like at Pulse nightclub in Orlando and Club Q in Colorado Springs. I’m committed to supporting this project as part of the collective effort to work diligently to protect queer people, especially our transgender community members, who are the targets of hate.”
If you have experienced or witnessed an anti-LGBTQ incident that you believe should be included by the ALERT Desk, please visit our “report an incident” form here.
