Submission to Inquiry on Anti-LGBTIQA+ Hate Crimes
In 2026 the Victorian Parliament's Legislative Council Legal and Social Issues Committee held an inquiry into anti-LGBTQIA+ hate crimes in Victoria. Bi+ Pride Victoria surveyed bi+ people and provided a submission to the Inquiry, featuring community voices.
Our submission highlights that anti-LGBTIQA+ hate causes high levels of distress and fear across the bi+ community. These hate-based behaviours impact our ability to live openly as ourselves, our freedom to be in public spaces, and our ability to sustain employment and housing. Those who are assaulted can carry long-lasting physical injuries and trauma. Exposure to hate undermines safety across our whole community.
“To be queer is to live every day with grief, sorrow, and fear; and to be forced to forge an identity strong enough to endure whatever shit gets flung our way. When people say that it's okay to be queer now and that discrimination is a thing of the past, it makes you feel like a crazy person. Because it's still everywhere.”
- Bi+ community survey respondent
We believe that everyone in our society should be safe and respected. No-one should be subjected to hate crimes.
Along with many other community organisations, BPV calls for well-considered, prompt, ongoing and effective action to make anti-LGBTIQA+ hate a thing of the past. Our submission provides recommendations to help work towards this.
More background on anti-LGBTIQA+ hate crimes
An anti-LGBTIQA+ hate crime is criminal behaviour that is motivated by hatred, bias or prejudice towards LGBTIQA+ people. This can include assault, theft, damage to property, intimidation or threats of violence.
We may also experience ‘hate incidents’ which are distressing incidents that are not classified as crimes. Examples include verbal abuse, rude gestures or refusal to provide a service, motivated by hatred, bias or prejudice towards LGBTIQA+ people.
Hate crimes and incidents could be carried out by strangers or by people we know. More info on hate crimes is available here.
The Victorian Parliamentary inquiry followed a string of violent attacks on gay and bi+ men in Victoria and New South Wales over several years, many of them facilitated through dating and social media apps. Our community, including women and non-binary folk, also experience a broader range of violent and threatening behaviour driven by anti-LGBTIQA+ prejudice. These behaviours directly impact the safety and wellbeing of our bi+ community.
For more on work to strengthen legal protections around Australia against anti-LGBTIQA+ hate crimes, see Equality Australia’s website.