Overview of 2021 Hate Crimes Targeting LGBTQ+ Individuals in Spain
In 2021, concerns raised by the Ministry of the Interior focused on a measurable rise in hate crimes tied to sexual orientation and gender identity. Police reports show that 466 such incidents were investigated during the year, involving 530 victims. These figures marked a substantial increase from 2019 and 2020, with growth rates approaching two thirds over those years according to the official assessment for 2021.
Among the 466 offenses, the cases that reached the attention of the police included complaints filed by victims or entries triggered by police intervention. Of the victims, 13 percent were minors, comprising 47 girls and 21 boys. By gender, the distribution skewed toward male victims, who accounted for about 80 percent, with women close to 20 percent. These data are drawn from the 2021 report on the evolution of hate crimes in Spain.
The Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska described the trend as a serious threat to society because such crimes threaten fundamental rights and freedoms. He noted that hate crimes have risen steadily since 2014 and emphasized the broader danger they pose to social cohesion.
Compared with 2019, police investigations into hate crimes rose by 7.8 percent in 2021, a year still influenced by mobility restrictions linked to the pandemic. Within the breakdown, xenophobia and racism accounted for the largest share, totaling 639 cases and representing 37 percent of the overall hate crime total. Offenses connected to sexual orientation and gender identity followed with 466 cases, which equated to 27 percent of the total and reflected a notable increase from 2019, where these offenses grew by about 67 percent.
Authorities acknowledge that some of the observed rise stems from persistent underreporting, which appears to be easing as victims increasingly rely on security forces and prosecutor offices to formalize complaints. At the same time, public officials warn that hate speech remains a critical catalyst. It tends to target specific groups and can inflame fears that drive more serious offenses and social division.
In 2021, thirteen percent of hate crimes against LGBTQ+ individuals occurred online, through internet platforms and social networks. The profile of most alleged aggressors skews younger, with about 84 percent identified as young men. The majority of attackers were under 40 years old, and roughly one in six were under 18. The age pattern among victims mirrors this, as three quarters of those harmed were under 40, indicating a concentration of impact within younger populations.
Despite reporting challenges, authorities highlighted improved case resolution. Approximately 67 percent of LGBTQ+-related hate crime cases were closed as of 2021, amounting to 314 solved instances. The geographic distribution showed the highest concentrations in Catalonia, Madrid, and the Basque Country, while no cases were recorded in La Rioja or Ceuta during the year.
Overall, the 2021 data underscore ongoing risks faced by LGBTQ+ communities in Spain, the continuing effort by security bodies to address these offenses, and the need for robust measures to reduce underreporting and to counter the social anvil of prejudice that can lead to criminal acts.