Report: Anti-LGBT violence surged in 2017

Last year was the deadliest on record for the United States’s LGBTQ community, according to a report by the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs.

The group’s annual “Crisis of Hate” report found an 86 percent increase in hate violence homicides of LGBTQ people in 2017, with a total of 52 reported incidents.

The report lists the homicides, including that of Kiwi Herring, 30, a black transgender woman who was shot to death by St. Louis police in August of 2017.

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Transgender women and queer, bi or gay cisgender men made up the majority of the victims.

“For too long, legislators have not taken meaningful or effective steps to address the increase of hate violence in this country,” the group writes in the report’s summary. “We ask that people call their representatives and ask them what they will do right now to proactively address hate violence and ensure that their communities are safe and affirming for LGBTQ people.”

President Trump pledged to “do everything in my power to protect our LGBTQ citizens” in his speech to the Republican National Convention in 2016, but has largely ignored the community since taking office.

In June, Trump broke tradition from previous presidents by not issuing a statement recognizing LGBT Pride Month, which was recognized by other members of his administration including Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.