California Attorney General Rob Bonta has released the 2023 Hate Crimes in California report. The report highlights a whole range of data, looking at hate crimes and hate-related events as reported to law enforcement - and at what communities are being most affected. 

And the findings aren’t too good for those in the LGBTQ+ community. While overall hate crimes saw a slight decline from 2022 to 2023 hate incidents, such as slurs being used, handing out hate material in public places continue to rise, up 86% from 2022.

So, what does this mean for the LGBTQ+ community in California? Are things getting worse and why?

To take a closer look at all this, we're joined by Dr. Ilan Meyer, Distinguished Senior Scholar of Public Policy at the Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law. The institute conducts independent research on sexual orientation and gender identity law and public policy, ensuring that facts—not stereotypes—inform laws, policies, and judicial decisions that affect the LGBTQ+ community.