35 LGBTQ Individuals Murdered in Honduras Since the Beginning of the Year

From January to August 2026, 35 LGBTQ individuals were murdered in Honduras, and another 195 faced various forms of violence, according to a new report by the Observatory of Violence Against LGBTI+ Persons in Honduras (KAI+).

According to human rights defenders, the victims include 11 transgender women, 10 gay men, one lesbian, one bisexual man, and one transgender man. The sexual orientation or gender identity of 11 other victims remains unidentified. The highest number of murders was recorded in the departments of Francisco Morazán, Cortés, and Comayagua.

In addition to the murders, the observatory documented 195 cases of violence, including threats, domestic abuse, abuse of authority by police, discrimination, and sexual assault. Transgender women were the most vulnerable group, accounting for 32 of these incidents. Furthermore, about 70% of violence cases lack proper categorization by state authorities, which, according to the report’s authors, indicates an absence of adequate investigation protocols.

The level of impunity remains extremely high: all 35 murder cases are in the preliminary investigation stage, with only two arrests made so far. Due to ongoing threats to their lives and safety, 11 LGBTQ individuals were forced to flee the country and seek asylum abroad, primarily in the United States and Spain.

Local human rights activists are urging the Honduran government to take urgent measures to protect LGBTQ people, including the implementation of comprehensive public policies, training for officials, and the effective investigation of hate crimes.