ABUSE and harassment of homosexual, bisexual and transgendered people is rife in Queensland, a new study shows.

A survey of 1100 lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ) people by Griffith and Bond University researchers found the overwhelming majority had been victims of targeted harassment as well as physical and sexual abuse.



And attitudes towards them aren't changing, with 53 per cent saying they had been victimised in the past two years.



Details of the study and recommendations have been compiled in a book, Speaking Out: Stopping Homophobic and Transphobic Abuse in Queensland, to be released in Brisbane on June 9.



Griffith University researcher Dr Alan Berman said respondents reported being abused while in public, the workplace, school and university.



``The majority of perpetrators are likely to be young males with no prior relationship to the victim, raising questions about the links between homophobic and transphobic abuse and insecure concepts of masculinity on the part of offenders,'' Dr Berman said.



The report found 75 per cent of LGBTIQs who were victims didn't report the harassment or attacks to authorities nor seek professional assistance.



Meanwhile, LGBTIQs living in certain parts of Queensland are more at risk. Of the respondents in Brisbane, 72 per cent reported harassment or violence in the last two years.



The figure was 50 per cent on the Sunshine Coast, 40 per cent in north Queensland and 38 per cent on the Gold Coast.



The report, prepared with Bond University researcher Dr Shirleene Robinson, makes 36 recommendations, including a television advertising campaign promoting LGBTIQ as an asset for the state.



Dr Berman also wants to see hate crime become a criminal offence, with tough penalties.



``Law alone does not change the rate of crime - there needs to be a change in law enforcement agencies' culture and the general population's attitudes to prevent such devastating crimes,'' Dr Berman said.



Homophobic comments by former Brisbane Lion Jason Akermanis have also put the issue back in the spotlight.

In his newspaper column in May in The Herald Sun, Akermanis said the AFL wasn't ready for openly gay players and urged them to stay in the closet.

Dr Berman said Akermanis's comments could have dangerous consequences for LGBTIQs.



``He's condoning their vilification,'' Dr Berman said.



``People who have a propensity to violence will hear that and it will reinforce their already homophobic attitude and encourage them to commit acts of violence.''



An inappropriate picture was briefly published on an earlier version of this article. It was removed on the editor's instruction. We apologise for any offence caused. - Ed