Are LGBT+ people in America actually safe? Or is the media just over hyping all the anti-gay sentiment from certain groups of people to scare everyone?

It depends on where you are, what your situation is, and what you consider to be "safe". I have never felt that I was in physical danger because of my orientation, but I have almost always lived in cities. People in more rural areas may feel less comfortable.

There are still young LGBTQ+ people who are being punished or forced to try to "convert back". In some cases, LGBTQ+ people are kicked out or disowned by their families. While these things are not directly physical violence, it can often lead to situations that could easily be considered unsafe.

One thing has been making me feel less safe though. Recently, there has also been a strong backlash against LGBTQ+ visibility under the guise of "protecting children" and "preventing grooming". This is worrying, because the trope of gay people wanting to harm children has led to a lot of anti-gay violence in the past.

/r/TooAfraidToAsk Thread