Silent all these years or recent surge?

Statistics show increase in hate crimes against sexual orientation
by Alix Bryan

Since 2004, the overall number of hate crimes nationwide has remained level. But hate crimes against sexual orientation jumped 15 percent – more than for any other group. In 2004, a total of 9,514 hate crimes were committed, and 1,482 of those crimes were against sexual orientation.  In 2008, the total of hate crimes increased by 169 counts, whereas the crimes against sexual orientation increased by 224 counts.

These aren’t the only trends that can be gleaned from the latest FBI hate crime data. Most victims of sexual orientation hate crime are male and most crimes occur at the residence. The crimes have become more violent in the past two years, with sexual orientation as the motivation for 71 percent of all hate crime murders.

Some say the increase reflects the fact that more agencies are reporting hate crime statistics.  Trends are difficult to pinpoint when the list of reporting agencies changes annually. However, an examination of the 912 agencies that reported in both 2004 and 2008 represented an overall bulk of the filing agencies, enough to make sound statistical conclusions.