Numerous studies indicate that crime is the top concern for most Houstonians regarding city policy.
However, recent research from Rice University’s Kinder Institute reveals that hate crimes in the area are significantly underreported.
The study found that one in three Harris County residents have experienced victimization based on race, gender, or other protected characteristics, yet the majority do not report these incidents to law enforcement.
Christen Valentine, a Black transgender woman, shared her experience with being judged. “People see my trans identity before they see me as a human being,” she said. “I strive to be myself, just like anyone else.”
Valentine noted that she refrains from contacting the police for assistance. “I’ve had girlfriends call the police and say, ‘I’m going through something.’ They never showed up. They never came,” she explained. “These incidents make you wonder, ‘Is everyone going to hate us?’ We feel unprotected, despite paying taxes.”
In 2022, the Houston Police Department reported only 35 hate crime incidents, a figure that the Kinder Institute researchers believe highlights the issue of underreporting and a lack of awareness within law enforcement. “Only about 30% of our respondents reported their incidents to police or the sheriff’s department,” stated Dan Potter, the Kinder Institute Director of the Houston Population Research Center.
The new report indicates that many victims of hate crimes in the area choose not to report these incidents because they doubt police will take action. “This is not just about an individual victim; it’s about attacking a community,” Potter emphasized. “It’s about trying to demean and disempower an entire group of people.”
Valentine expressed her mixed feelings about allyship, saying, “Sometimes it feels like we have support, but often it feels absent—only showing up when it’s convenient, like in November, and then disappearing.”
The authors of the Kinder Institute report recommend that police officers engage directly with community leaders, as victims typically report these crimes to friends or family rather than law enforcement.
