Physical aggressions against LGTBI+ people triple in two years in a context marked by the rise of Vox's hate speech

Violence against LGTBI+ people has soared in Spain. This is reflected in the report Estado del Odio 2026, prepared by the FELGTBI+ together with the IPP-CSIC, which warns of a generalized increase in aggressions, harassment, and discrimination against the collective.

The most worrying data from the study is the sharp increase in physical aggressions. While in 2024, 7% of those surveyed claimed to have suffered this type of attack, in 2026 the figure already reaches 22%. The report describes an escalation of direct violence that coincides with a deterioration in the perception of safety among LGTBI+ people.

The research also reveals that 54% of the collective has experienced some act of hatred during the last year, either in physical spaces or through the internet. The authors of the study warn that these situations have ceased to be isolated episodes to become a common reality for a significant part of the LGTBI+ population.

Harassment is another phenomenon that is growing the most. The percentage of people who claim to have suffered it goes from 20% to 36%, an evolution that includes everything from insults and vexations to situations of social exclusion or continuous intimidation.

Discrimination, for its part, also increases. According to the report, 29% of those surveyed have suffered some type of discriminatory treatment, six points more than in the previous edition of the study. These situations occur in areas as diverse as work, education, or social relationships.

Furthermore, hatred against the collective is persistent. Half of the victims claim to have suffered this type of episode on more than three occasions during the last five years, a circumstance that, according to researchers, can cause fear, self-censorship, and isolation.

Although the report does not establish a direct cause-and-effect relationship, it does warn that the increase in violence occurs in a context of growing dissemination of hate speech against LGTBI+ people. In recent years, Vox has led numerous campaigns and statements against laws protecting the collective, against sexual diversity policies, and against the rights of trans people. The study's authors warn that the normalization of this type of message in public debate can contribute to legitimizing discriminatory behaviors and aggressions against sexual minorities.