The National Data-set of LGBT Homicides
1970-2000

The National GLBT Homicide Data-set is a research project establishing information on all cases of homicide involving homosexual, bisexual, and transsexual people in the United States over the past 30 years. 

Frequently Asked Questions
How will this information be used? 
Hasn’t someone already done this? 
What questions are expected to be answered by this data-set? 
Who’s doing the research?
Who funds this research?
How permanent will the data-set be?
How many cases are in the database?
What are the long-term goals of the Center for Homicide Research?
How can you help?

 

How will this information be used? 

Researchers will use this data to answer pressing questions about LGBT violence that until now have been unanswerable.  With the construction of this database, we may finally learn the true extent of victimization of LGBT people. 

In order for this research to be reliable, the Center for Homicide Research believes that a data-set needs to be constructed using information on all homosexual homicides in the U.S.
 

Hasn’t someone already done this? 

No.  The process of constructing this data-set is time-consuming, complicated and expensive. Although information on some LGBT homicides has been collected, there has never been a concerted effort to document and examine all homicide deaths.  In addition, little research has been done on LGBT homicide in general and much of existing research is inherently flawed. 

Researchers from the FBI, as well as the national community of homicide researchers, are excited about this project.
 

What questions are expected to be answered
by this data-set? 

While it is difficult to predict the exact questions individual researchers will ask, basic questions might include:

	How often do LGBT homicides occur?
	Is the rate of violence the same for LGBT and heterosexual victims?
	Has the rate of homicides against LGBT people increased or decreased over time?
	Are we safer now than 30 years ago? 20 years ago? 10 years ago?
	Are lesbian women at greater risk of lethal violence than gay men?
	Are there characteristics of LGBT homicide that make these cases unique?
	What percent of LGBT homicides involve a robbery?
	Where are LGBT people at most risk?
	How can LGBT homicides be prevented?

These are just a few of the many and varied questions that might be answered using this data. It is predicted that this project will profoundly change how LGBT homicide is viewed in the future.
 

Who’s doing the research?

The National Data-set of LGBT Homicide 1970-2000 is a research project of the Center for Homicide Research.

The Center for Homicide Research is an independent, volunteer-driven, nonprofit organization whose mission is to identify, understand and prevent lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender homicides.  The research began in the early 1990s. The CHR was originally incorporated as a nonprofit organization in 1999 under the name Minnesota Gay Homicide Study.  In 2004, it changed it name to the Center for Homicide Research. It is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 

Volunteer staff includes researchers trained in research methodology, crime scene investigation, death investigation, statistics, and research ethics.

The research is conducted by volunteers under the supervision of Principal Researcher, Dallas Drake and a panel of academic research advisors.
 

Who funds this research? 

As an all-volunteer organization, the Center for Homicide Research is funded by generous community support.  A growing number of individual contributors make up a large portion of our financial support. 

The Center is also supported by generous grants from the Colorado-based Gill Foundation and locally by Philanthrofund Foundation through the John Chenoweth Human Rights Fund Award.  The Center received start-up funding from the Grotto Foundation.

The Center receives no government funding.
 

How permanent will the data-set be? 

The long-range goal of CHR  is to place the completed data-set in the National Archive of Criminal Justice Data located at Ann Arbor, Michigan.  This archive is used by researchers, law enforcement, policy-makers and many others to analyze trends in crime and public safety.

Prior to the placement of this data, all identifiers (names, addresses, etc.) will be deleted from the data to help insure ethical use and protect the privacy of surviving friends and family members.

As the database is being developed, it is being critiqued and queried by a small group of researchers representing many fields of study.  To ensure safekeeping of the information, all data are backed up.
 

How many cases are in the database?

As of summer 2004, approximately 2,500 cases have been documented. (These numbers are approximate because the data-set is incomplete.)
 

What are the long-term goals of the
Center for Homicide Research?

The long-term goals include increasing the ability of investigators to solve LGBT homicides and prosecutors to win convictions against offenders.  It also seeks to better articulate LGBT homicide issues such as case identification, robbery victimization, bias motivation, intimate-partner violence and much etc.

Ultimately, the goal of the Center for Homicide Research is to reduce the overall incidence of homicide by focusing on prevention.  We seek to identify risk factors that place people in a position of vulnerability.  We also seek to identify protective factors, making it safer for all.
 

How can you help?

Volunteers are always needed to conduct research and to assist in day-to-day operations. The Center provides training and support for all activities.  Financial support is also needed to defray costs for records and data retrieval, travel and educational materials.

Anyone with information about specific homicide cases should contact the Center with this valuable data.