One step closer to changing the law – House of Lords passes amendment to make anti LGBTQ+ hate crime an aggravated offence
We’re celebrating another step towards success for our Hold My Hand campaign, as anti LGBTQ+ hate crime looks set to be made an aggravated offence, giving LGBTQ+ people equal protections from hate crime.
Yesterday, the House of Lords passed an amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill which will equalise the treatment of hate crime. Following the conclusion of debate in the House of Lords, the Bill will go back to the Commons to consider all the changes, before it becomes law.
This is something Stonewall has been relentlessly campaigning, and most recently with our Hold My Hand campaign.
At a time when many in the LGBTQ+ community are feeling worried about what the future holds, this vital change in the law will deliver much-needed equality in hate crime legislation.
Stonewall CEO Simon Blake said:
“We have made further progress on the journey to LGBTQ+ equality - we are one step closer to making anti-LGBTQ+ hate crime an aggravated offence. Putting hate crime against LGBTQ+ people on the same footing as religious and racial hate crime has always been the right thing to do. It sends a powerful message that LGBTQ+ people deserve equal access to justice.
“Effective advocacy matters now more than ever. Stonewall, and others, have campaigned tirelessly for this change; I am proud to see it one step closer to becoming a reality.
What would this change in law mean?
Although anti LGBTQ+ hate crime was recognised in law, hate crimes based on race and/or religion had higher maximum penalties than LGBTQ+ hate crime, because they were classified as aggravated offences.
This means that it was committed under circumstances which increase the seriousness of the offence in the eyes of the courts and the perpetrator will get a stronger sentence.
Now, anti LGBTQ+ hate crimes will be treated as an aggravated offences instead, which means victims will have more time to access justice and that penalties can be more severe. This sends a strong message that these hate crimes are taken seriously and there is no hierarchy of hate.
How have we got to this stage?
We launched our Hold My Hand campaign in 2024, with this being a primary ask, many of you emailed your MPs also calling for the change. In June 2025 we worked with Rachel Taylor MP to introduce an amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill which would make this change.
The amendment was then backed by more than 100 MPs from across Labour, Conservative, Lib Dems and the Green Party and the Government committed in Parliament to bring penalties for anti-LGBTQ+ and disability hate crime in line with sentencing for attacks on religious and racial minorities when the Bill reached the House of Lords.
We kept the pressure up, working along side Peers across the Lords, to ensure the Government met their commitment and laid an amendment.
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