Hate crimes motivated by anti-LGBTQ animus rose again last year, according to FBI data published Monday, a troubling increase that gay and transgender rights advocates believe is linked to ramped-up rhetoric and legislation targeting the community.

“Every lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer person in this country should be free to live their lives without fear that we’ll be the target of a violent incident purely because of who we are and who we love,” said Kelley Robinson, president of the Human Rights Campaign, a national LGBTQ civil rights organization.

“Make no mistake,” she added, “politicians who spread disinformation and demonize our........

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