Teenage boys drive homophobic anti-LGBTQIA+ attacks, NSW Police data shows
Police recorded 197 incidents of LGBTQIA+ hate-related violence from 2023 to October, 2025. (ABC News)
In short:
Nearly 200 incidents of anti-LGBTQIA+ violence have been reported in NSW since 2023, according to police data.
Assaults, aggravated robberies, and affray were the most common violent anti-LGTBQIA+ offences.
The wave appears to be driven by teenage boys, with 36 cases involving luring victims on dating or hookup apps.
Police have recorded nearly 200 incidents of anti-LGBTQIA+ violence in New South Wales since 2023, in an Australia-wide wave of homophobic crime driven by teenage boys.
NSW Police data obtained under freedom of information laws ahead of this weekend's Sydney Mardi Gras festival shows teenage boys committed the largest share of offences, amid warnings radicalised young people pose an escalating threat to LGBTQIA+ Australians.
Warning: This article contains links to descriptions of violence that some readers may find distressing
Police recorded 197 incidents of LGBTQIA+ hate-related violence and charged 103 people with more than 320 offences over such attacks from 2023, the year Sydney hosted the World Pride festival, to October 2025.
An analysis of the charges shows juveniles aged 12 to 17 were believed responsible for 48 per cent of offences, followed by young men aged 18 to 24, who accounted for 16 per cent.
Assaults, aggravated robberies, and affray were the most common violent anti-LGTBQIA+ offences, according to the data.
In 36 cases, young offenders lured victims on dating or hookup apps to assaults or violent robberies, which were often filmed by the attackers.
The figures were drawn from an internal NSW Police database that allows officers to flag offences with a hate crime component.
An ABC investigation this week revealed distressing videos and victims' accounts of bashings of gay and bisexual teenagers who were lured on apps by supporters of the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group.
Three of the teenage attackers -- including a suspected violent repeat offender walked free on probation, while a ringleader was jailed for six months.
The boys, who cannot be identified because their age, were among 29 people charged in NSW over similar gay bashings, according to the NSW Police data.
Loading...Scores of similar app-based assaults have been reported to police across Australia, including in Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia and the ACT.
NSW Premier Chris Minns this week announced a crackdown on gay hate crimes, promising tough jail sentences and possible new offences in response to the videos obtained by the ABC.
Victoria's Parliament last week also called an inquiry into the so-called Grindr attacks, with 35 people charged in that state as of October 2025, according to Victoria Police data. There are no national figures on anti-LGTBQIA+ hate crimes.
Most state police forces told the ABC they were unable to provide data on such violence.
Offence hotspots
In NSW, the inner western Sydney suburb of Strathfield recorded the highest level of anti-LGBTQIA+ violence, with 23 offences.
That was followed by Terrigal, north of Sydney, at 21 offences, and Wollongong, where 20 charges were laid.
Sydney City and Darlinghurst — which is regarded as a haven for the gay community — were also high on the list, with 18 and 17 offences each respectively.
Marayong, in Sydney’s north-west, and the Central Coast suburb of Wamberal, recorded double digits as well.
The true number of anti-LGBTQIA+ attacks is believed to be higher than the data suggests.
Katie Green says many are reluctant to report hate-related crimes. (ABC News: Tamara Penniket)
Katie Green, CEO of the Inner City Legal Centre, said the community legal service’s LGBTQIA+ clients were often reluctant to report assaults to police.
"We know about the historic mistrust between NSW Police and the LGBTQ community," Ms Green said.
"But another key reason in 2026 is the extreme shame that a lot of our community feel, particularly if they've been lured through an app."
The NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) said the system did not reliably capture hate crime as an associated factor in offending.
NSW Police did not respond to questions from the ABC.
'Comprehensive' security for Mardi Gras
In most states and territories, including NSW, there are no specific criminal offences for acts of violence motivated by hate.
Police in Queensland can charge attackers with aggravated offences for hate-fuelled violence.
But elsewhere, it comes down to a court to decide whether to impose tougher penalties, as hatred and prejudice can be considered an “aggravating” factor in sentencing.
Since 2018, it has been an offence in NSW to publicly threaten or incite violence on the grounds of sexuality, gender identity, religion or race, under section 93Z of the Crimes Act.
But BOCSAR has no record of 93Z charges ever being finalised in court in relation to sexuality or gender identity.
A significant police presence is planned for tomorrow's Mardi Gras parade, amid warnings LGBTQIA+ people are among the most likely targets of violent extremism.
Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras CEO Jesse Matheson said the organisers worked with police all year to ensure the safety of participants.
"Our security planning is comprehensive and reflects the scale of the event, which brings hundreds of thousands of people into the city," Mr Matheson said.