Hold My Hand

Anti LGBTQ+ hate crime has risen in recent years – online, on our streets and in public. 

Our research revealed LGBTQ+ people do not feel safe to live their lives freely. Less than half (44%) of LGBTQ+ people feel safe holding their partner’s hand in public. 

Everyone deserves to go about their daily lives free from the fear of abuse and harassment, no matter who they are. 

Campaign update – we changed the law!

On the 16 April 2026, the Crime and Policing Bill received Royal Assent, changing the law to make anti-LGBTQ+ hate crime an aggravated offence. This was the key objective of our Hold my Hand campaign. We worked hard to achieve it, working closely with Parliamentarians and government and many of you emailed your MPs to join the call for change.

What does this change in law mean?

This change in law brings penalties for anti-LGBTQ+ hate crime in line with offences motivated by race and religion.

Under the new legislation, the punishment for anti-LGBTQ+ hate crimes will be equalised. Hate crimes against LGBTQ+ and disabled people will now carry longer sentences, there will no longer be a 6-month time limit for investigations, and all victims, no matter their identity, will be taken equally seriously. The amendment also creates a new category of ‘sex’ in hate crime legislation.  

How did we achieve this?

We put forward an amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill to make anti-LGBTQ+ hate crime an aggravated offence with Rachel Taylor MP. This was supported by more than 100 MPs from across Labour, Conservative, Lib Dems and the Green Party.  

On 16 February the Government tabled an amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill to make hate crimes against LGBTQ+ people an aggravated offence.

On 5 March the House of Lords passed the amendment to make anti LGBTQ+ hate crime an aggravated offence and on 14 April the amendment was agreed to by the House of Commons. It received Royal Assent two days later, meaning it became law.

Thank you to everyone who supported our campaign – we are proud to have played a vital role in securing the first legislative change in Westminster in more than a decade. We are currently reviewing our hate crime work, and will continue find ways to tackle rising hate crime against the LGBTQ+ community.