Group: Gay bias killings highest since 1999
— 29 killings recorded in 2008

According to the report on 2008 violence released by the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (NCAVP):

“NCAVP identified the following key findings and trends.”

— “2008, with 29 total murders, has the highest number of deaths since 1999, and an increase of 28% from 2007.”

— “Of the total injuries reported in 2008, 216 (46%) were classified as serious, meaning that the injury required medical attention.”

— “Reports of abusive treatment by law enforcement increased significantly between 2007 and 2008:”
° “Reports of physical abuse at the hands of law enforcement increased 150%, from 10 in 2007 to 25 in 2008.”
° “One hundred forty-three cases (73%) of reports received bias classification by law enforcement – an increase over the 35% in 2007.”
° “Fifty three cases (27%) were refused bias classification by law enforcement in 2008.”

— “Reports of sexual assault rose 48% (from 94 to 138), continuing a three year trend of marked increases in reports of hate-motivated sexual violence.”

— “Bias violence from strangers climbed 36%.”

— “Weapons use during the commission of a hate crime increased significantly; at least 382 out of the total 1,677 incidents (23%) involved weapons use in 2008. The biggest increases in weapons use occurred in the other category (+34%) and the bottles/bricks/rocks category (+49%).”

— “There was a significant increase in reports in the 15 – 18 year old category (+118%).”

— “Anti-transgender bias comprised 12% (206) of the total incidents reported in 2008.”

— “Anti-HIV related violence comprised 5% (88) of the total incidents reported in 2008.”

— “Out of the total 1,677 incidents, 472 (28%) were also reported to the police, consistent with the percentage of reports made to police last year (29%).”

— “Incidents occurring in or around private residences constituted the most frequent site of anti-LGBT bias (32%).”

— “Workplace constituted the third most common site with (14%) and workplace incidents decreased 12% from 2007.”

— “Total number of offenders rose 5% over 2007, representing the most significant increase in terms of overall totals.”

— “Long-term data indicate that while hate violence against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people has fallen 4.7% over the last ten years, overall crime in country has declined 9.81%.”