2016 was the deadliest year on record in the U.S. for the LGBTQ community, according to a group that tracks incidences of hate and violence against gay and HIV-affected people. The 77 homicide total was spiked by the Pulse Nightclub attack last June.
In a report released on Monday, the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs said outside of the lives lost at Pulse Nightclub in Orlando, Florida, there were 28 homicides of LGBTQ people, an increase of 17% from 24 in 2015. There were 49 mostly LGBTQ lives lost in the shooting at the gay nightclub.
Reporting on the NCAVP statistics, USA Today recounted numerous incidents of violence that took place last year.
Among them was the death of Steven Nelson, a white cisgender gay male, who was beaten by Kelly Schneider in April, as well as the death of Rae' Lynn Thomas, a black transgender woman who was shot to death by her mother's ex-boyfriend in Ohio in August.
With June being pride month, there has been a focus on hate/violence against the LGBTQ and HIV-affected communities and a push to bring increase public awareness.
On Saturday, members of AVP joined thousands of others on the streets to participate in the highly publicized Brooklyn Pride Parade on Saturday in New York City.
In Washington, D.C. supporters of LGBTQ rights participate in Sunday’s Equality March.
Speaking about crimes committed against the LGBTQ communities, Melissa Brown at the Kansas City Anti-Violence Project, called for unity.
"We must work to dismantle the biases, such as transphobia, biphobia, homophobia and racism, which undergird all of this violence," she said