The House of Lords has passed an amendment that could make anti-LGBTQ+ hate crime an aggravated offence, bringing it in line with racial and religious hate crime. The change to the Crime and Policing Bill marks a major step forward for equality, after years of campaigning from LGBTQ+ organisations including Stonewall’s Hold My Hand campaign. Currently, hate crimes based on race or religion can carry higher maximum sentences because they are classified as aggravated offences. If this amendment becomes law, anti-LGBTQ+ hate crimes will receive the same legal treatment, allowing courts to hand down stronger penalties and giving victims more time to seek justice. The bill will now return to the Commons before it can become law. Stonewall CEO Simon Blake said the move sends a powerful message that “LGBTQ+ people deserve equal access to justice.” 📷 Getty #LGBTQNews #LGBTQEquality #UKPolitics #Parliament