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18 Jun 2009

US: LGBT related killings and hate crimes highest since 1999

‘’The more visibility there is, the more likely we're going to see backlash…” said the executive director of a US watchdog group that recorded 29 bias-related killings last year, along with an increase in the severity of violence perpetuated towards LGBTs.

The US National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (NCAVP) recorded 29 bias-related killings in 2008 - an increase of 28 percent compared to a year ago and the highest number since it began documenting killings of  lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people (and people who are perceived to be LGBT) in 1999.

Among the incidents that made the headlines last year include 15-year-old Lawrence King (top, left) who was shot to death by a schoolmate at his California school enduring harassment after he told classmates he was gay. His case was classified as a hate crime.

In November a transgender woman, Duanna Johnson (top, middle) was found fatally shot near downtown Memphis. She made the headlines nationwide after a videotape of her being taunted about her sexuality and beaten by two police officers in the station's booking area was publicised. The two officers lost their jobs over the incident.

In December, 31-year-old Jose Sucuzhanay (top, right) who is heterosexual had a beer bottle broken over the back of his head before he was beaten to death in New York City while he walked arm in arm with his brother. Witnesses reported hearing vulgarisms against Hispanics and gay men. His two attackers were charged with murder as a hate crime.

The same month, a 28-year-old out lesbian in Richmond, CA was attacked outside her home by four men who allegedly kidnapped and drove the survivor seven blocks from the location and later gang raped while having anti-lesbian epithets said to her. The report noted that she lived in the neighborhood with her partner and child, and also has a rainbow sticker on her license plate. The case is being investigated as a hate crime.



According to the 2008 Hate Violence Report released on Tuesday, violence against LGBT people increased 2 percent from 2007 to 2008, continuing the trend of a 24 percent total increase in 2007.

The report noted a 36 percent increase in bias violence from strangers and a 118 percent increase in the 15 to 18 year-old category. Bias violence from strangers climbed 36 percent.

The 95-page 2008 annual Hate Violence Report is written by a coalition of 35 LGBT anti-violence programs in 25 states across the US. It examines data compiled from 2,424 LGBTQ people who experienced hate or violence in regions across the country including Chicago, IL; Colorado; Columbus, OH; Houston, TX; Kansas City, MO; Los Angeles, CA; Michigan; Milwaukee, WI; Minnesota; New York, NY; Pennsylvania; Rochester, NY; and San Francisco, CA.



The NCAVP says although the US Federal Bureau of Investigation publishes its own report on hate crimes, which includes anti-LGB incidents, it “consistently contains information on far fewer cases than the NCAVP publication because it relies solely on law enforcement reports of such crimes rather than victim service organisation data.” The FBI also doesn't record bias crimes against transgender people because gender identity isn't covered by federal hate-crime law.

"What we're also seeing, more disturbingly, is the increase in the severity of violence," Said Sharon Stapel, executive director of the New York City Anti-Violence Project, which coordinates coalition.

"The more visibility there is, the more likely we're going to see backlash, and that's exactly what we see here," Stapel was quoted as saying in an Associated Press report in which she theorised that at least some of last year's violence was backlash against issues that arose during the during the presidential campaign. She cited debates about same-sex marriage, the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy, and federal legislation that would ban employment discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity as possible flash points.

To read the report, click here (in PDF).

United States

讀者回應

1. 2009-06-19 01:33  
The information is rather disturbing, and I'm pretty sure if other countries were to openly do such a survey we'd find an even more disturbing figure in Muslim majority countries which practice religious law.

Speaking as a Malaysian, the LGBT community particularly the transsexuals in KL often face discrimination by the authorities themselves and are often subject to verbal and physical abuse.

Even worse is the fact that these law enforcers are supposedly doing so in the name of religion and morality.
2. 2009-06-19 07:54  
true enough :(
3. 2009-06-19 12:40  
It's a great tragedy and reflects how little unerstanding there is among the community about LGBT issues let alone concern. Too many of the 90 are unwilling to take a stand for the 10 even though they know it's right to do so. Our education system needs to be over hauled yet the enormity of that task is set back time and time again from the conservative religions that continue to foster hate crimes and battle the 'right of life and living' for the LGBT community. There's no justice and little mercy as the saying goes........
4. 2009-06-19 18:22  
Hate crimes affect everyone, not just the target of the hate:

"31-year-old Jose Sucuzhanay (top, right) who is heterosexual ... was beaten to death in New York City while he walked arm in arm with his brother."
5. 2009-06-20 13:23  
This is sad and disturbing. I hope the people of this world can one day learn to love rather than judge,fear and hate. It's time something must be done... fast.
6. 2009-06-21 01:33  
Unfortunatly this already too high numbers of hate again our community reflect ONLY the police report.
How many victims don't complaint to the police? probalbly 70%...
7. 2009-06-27 02:41  
just stand up for ourself, make them feel how to be beaten by LGBT! Let's united to fight back
8. 2009-06-28 13:56  
We don't choose to be gay, we are born with it. Why can't these so-call "normal' people treat us normally? There should be sanctioned laws to protect the rights of gay people in every country.

However, we are just a minority.. But with the grace of 'God', there are a lot of gay people compared to last time. Cuz the world is over populated and more gay people are born to control the populations.

By year 2021, half of the world's population will be gay. By then, it will be make love not war.

Divine plan.. incomprehensible...
9. 2009-07-13 22:21  
Triste. :'(

But is it any surprise?? The trashy US-based pop-culture plays a not-small part in this. That, coupled with most of the population's ignorance (85% of Americans still believe astrology is a science...yes, you've read right) had many of them associating gays with the characters of their trashy media/entertainment figures, who more often than not are just publicity-hungry clowns with little talent, if any, simulating 'gay' just to be seen as special, different, cool/hot...or whatever superfical-shtick label-of-the moment. Think Katy Perry/Tila Tequilia/ Perez Hilton..& yes, even Angelina Jolie, when she's starting out. Interestingly,many of those trashy production material can directly trace roots to its Master... I mean media...Fox TV. Wonder if it's more than mere coincidence?
回應#10於被作者刪除。
11. 2009-07-13 22:38  
And Re: #4 shinzutonka...you are so right, sadly.
Yr comments remind me of an incident in a supermarket (in S'pore) where there's this woman with her two daughters in the same aisle as me...I was suddenly, & rudely- awakened by her (really LOUD) voice : "WHO TOLD YOU TO KISS HER?!!!" I turned round & saw that all the older girl did was to give her sister a peck on the cheek...for this, she got crudely abdomished by her mother.
Homophobia...a disease that hurts everyone.
My heart breaks for the 2 girls; I shudder to think how their future will be like living under their mother's crazy paranoia...I certainly hope this is not the norm in Singapore families.
Quite frankly, some people don't deserve to be parents.
THEY are the ones who ruin the family unit, not gay people.

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