- The perception of hate speech and public harassment has grown 13 percentage points between 2024 and 2026.
- Physical attacks have tripled in just two years, going from 7% to 22% prevalence.
- Only 15% of victims go exclusively to the police, while 41% seek refuge in social entities.
The FELGTBI+ presented the report this Thursday “State of Hate 2026”, revealing that the perception of hostility towards the LGTBI+ community has risen 13 points in two years. The study, prepared with the CSIC, confirms that the 54% of people have experienced hate incidents in the last year.
An unprecedented escalation of violence
The data presented by the State Federation of Lesbians, Gays, Trans, Bisexuals, Intersex and more (FELGTBI+) together with the Institute of Policies and Public Goods (IPP-CSIC) are alarming. The research, based on 800 interviews, shows that the increase in the feeling of insecurity is not subjective: the reality of the streets and networks supports it.
Between 2024 and 2026, the prevalence of harassment rose from 20% to 36%, while physical attacks rose from 7% to a worrying 22%. Furthermore, the The digital environment is consolidated as a battlefield where 4 out of every 10 LGTBI+ people have been victims of attacks on social networks.
Vulnerability and intersectionality in focus
María Rodríguez, head of research at the Federation, warns that these attacks are not isolated events, but rather repeated experiences. Half of the victims have suffered hate episodes more than three times in the last five years.
The report highlights that the impact is more severe in profiles with multiple layers of vulnerability: trans people, young people, low-income people, racialized people or people with disabilities. Laura Morales (CSIC) highlights that this climate is causing an increase in sexile and serious emotional consequences such as depression, anxiety and chronic fear.
The State Pact as the only way out
Given the seriousness of the figures, the president of the FELGTBI+, Paula Iglesias, has urgently demanded a State Pact against hate speech. “Our lives are at stake”, has ruled, emphasizing that a legal basis is needed to better classify hatred in the Penal Code and real economic resources.
The current reporting system has critical flaws. Although complaints have risen to 35% in 2026, 74% of those who report negative experiences during the process. This explains why the group trusts social organizations more (41%) than police authorities (15%).
Campaign “Spain needs to be different”
To channel this social demand, the Federation has launched the campaign “Spain needs to be different”. Inspired by the mythical tourist slogan, it seeks to remember that, although Spain was a pioneer in rights such as equal marriage, that national pride is threatened by political tension and the legitimization of violence. The goal is clear: transform social consensus into a lasting institutional tool.
