LGBT hate crimes are on the rise — in numbers and severity.

What happened to Jussie Smollett is hardly an anomaly — it’s a disturbing reality. (Image: Getty)

On Tuesday morning, news broke that Empire actor Jussie Smollett had been hospitalized after two people physically assaulted the actor, fractured his rib, tied a noose around his neck, and poured bleach on him. In a statement, the Chicago Police Department…