[lavender] FW: [Lavender-caucus] Hate Crimes Based on Sexual Orientation IncreaseDramatically

[Owen Broadhurst]

----Original Message Follows----
From: David Strand <mncivil at yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 24 Nov 2004 00:22:39 -0800 (PST)

While not all jurisdictions report sexual orientation
based hate crimes and the federal government doesn't
collect any statistics on transgender based hate
crimes the figures are shocking with sexual
orientation passing religion to become second to race
and number one as motivator of murders that meet the
stringent criteria to be classed as hate crimes.

David Strand

----------------------------------------------------
Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2004

ALARMING RATES OF HATE CRIMES REPORTED BY FBI

Sexual Orientation-Based Crimes Now Second-Highest
Category of Reported Hate Offenses

WASHINGTON — Sexual orientation-based bias crime is
now the second-highest category of hate crime offenses
in the United States, according to new information
from the FBI. Previously the third category behind
race and religion, 1,430 hate crime offenses based on
sexual orientation were reported in 2003. Six murders
were reported based on sexual orientation — the
highest category, followed closely by four murders
based on race bias.

“Hate crime continues to be a national scourge,” said
Human Rights Campaign President Cheryl Jacques. “The
current federal hate crimes statute needs to be
strengthened immediately to give law enforcement the
tools they need to combat these crimes.”

According to the FBI report “Hate Crime Statistics |
2003,” 8,715 criminal offenses were identified as
being motivated by hate. Of these offenses, 1,430 — or
16.4 percent — were crimes based on the victim’s
actual or perceived sexual orientation. Offenses based
on race account for the highest category of bias crime
at 52.5 percent. The third-highest category is crimes
based on religion — also at approximately 16.4
percent.

“The new statistics only offer a glimpse of the
problem,” said Jacques. “Reporting these crimes is
voluntary for local jurisdictions and hate crimes
often go unreported by victims due to fear and
stigmatization.”

The data also does not track crimes based on bias
against transgender people. Nov. 20 marked the Sixth
Annual Transgender Day of Remembrance, where our
community mourned the loss of 21 transgender
individuals to hate violence over the past year.

This summer, the U.S. Senate amended the defense
authorization bill to include a strong hate crimes
measure — the Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act —
on a bipartisan vote of 65-33 with 18 Republicans
voting in favor. On a procedural vote in September,
the House voted in favor of keeping the hate crimes
measure in the defense authorization bill by a
bipartisan vote of 213-186. However, the provision was
stripped in conference committee.

“This new data confirms that hate motivated crimes
remain a problem of critical national importance,”
said Jacques. “And still — despite widespread support
among law enforcement, the American people and members
of Congress from both parties — a few congressional
leaders consistently block common-sense responses to
this problem.”

LLEEA is endorsed by more than 175 law enforcement,
civil rights, civic and religious organizations,
including: the National Sheriffs’ Association,
International Association of Chiefs of Police, U.S.
Conference of Mayors, Federal Law Enforcement Officers
Association and many others.

Of the hate crimes motivated by sexual orientation
violence, 61.6 percent were committed due to anti-male
homosexual bias, 21.3 percent were due to an
anti-homosexual bias, 15.4 percent were committed due
to anti-female homosexual bias, 1.0 percent were
committed due to anti-heterosexual bias and 0.6
percent were motivated by anti-bisexual bias.

The entire report is available on the FBI website.

The Human Rights Campaign is the largest national
lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender political
organization with members throughout the country. It
effectively lobbies Congress, provides campaign
support and educates the public to ensure that LGBT
Americans can be open, honest and safe at home, at
work and in the community.

-30-


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