Last week, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced more than $51 million for organizations most at risk of being victims of hate crimes. Two of those groups are LGBTQ+ and HIV-affected communities. 

There have been multiple mass shootings at public venues that had been considered safe spaces for these groups.  

Several years before the tragedy at Club Q in Colorado Springs in November 2022, the New York City Anti-Violence Project (AVP) began tracking how hate organizations work to put the LGBTQ+ community at risk.  

The result is the group’s report, titled “Under Attack: LGBTQ+ Safe Spaces needs National Assessment," which was recently released. 

Beverly Tillery, executive director of the Anti-Violence Project, discussed the findings with Capital Tonight. 

“We have been at this issue for several years now…particularly the ways in which white supremacists and white nationalist groups have been impacting and spreading hate across the country, targeting LGBTQ organizations,” Tillery said. “We’ve seen this escalating over the years, particularly during pride season and most recently we’ve seen the attacks on the organization Drag Story Hour."

According to the report, groups including the Proud Boys have instigated and mobilized hundreds of thousands of people across the country to attack Drag Story Hour events. 

These attacks are taking place while hundreds of bills have been introduced across the country limiting the rights of transgender people.

The report’s recommendations include increasing security, which the funding earmarked by Gov. Hochul will, in part, pay for.

But according to Tillery, more can and should be done.

“Many groups are asking for, not just bullet-proof glass and security systems, but they’re also asking for resources to train the community," she said.