21 LGBT People Accused of Faking a Hate Crime

As Orlando has reminded us, violence and discrimination against LGBT people is very real, and the consequences of society's stigma can be deadly. This reality makes it all the more alarming when a person who says they have been a victim of hate turns out to have falsified their claim.

Recently, gay YouTuber Calum McSwiggan caused a stir when he posted a photo on Instagram and claimed he was the victim of antigay violence. Police did not believe his claim and charged him with a crime, throwing his story into doubt and once again inciting a conversation in the LGBT community about truth and hate crimes. As the debate about McSwiggan continues, take a look back at some notable cases of other gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender folks accused of faking the hate.