A bill that makes hate crimes against LGBTQ+ and disabled people aggravated offences has received royal assent, meaning it will soon become law in the UK. King Charles III approved the bill on April 29, ensuring that hate crimes targeting these groups will carry the same higher sentences as those motivated by racial or religious hatred.
In Birmingham, police data shows 634 hate crimes were recorded in 2025 where sexual orientation or transgender identity were mentioned. Of these, 210 involved intentional harassment, alarm, or distress. Assault without injury was the second most common crime, with 80 instances, followed by 61 cases of harassment.
Overall, recorded LGBTQ+ hate crimes in Birmingham decreased in 2025 compared to previous years, from a high of 799 in 2023 to 634 last year. However, racially or religiously aggravated harassment cases rose, with 29 recorded in 2025, up from 25 in 2024.
In the first three months of 2026, there were 16 such crimes, matching the total for all of 2022. As Birmingham Pride approaches its 30th year, the statistics highlight ongoing challenges for the city's LGBTQ+ community.
Ben Kernighan, CEO of Galop, an LGBTQ+ charity supporting abuse victims, commented: "At a time when the LGBT+ community is navigating an increasingly hostile environment, this long-overdue change in law is a welcome step in addressing the intensifying hate our community faces."
Pride director Lawrence Barton told BirminghamLive that legal changes do not always change behaviour. He said: "As a gay man in my 50s, would I feel comfortable walking up New Street holding my husband's hand? No. There's a forced tolerance because the law says you can't act a certain way, but in people's hearts, it's still considered wrong to be gay."
The law change has not yet come into effect.
