Anti-LGBT Hate Crimes Up 23% in One Year

via Rev. Steve by rev.stevescyberpulpit@yahoo.com (Rev. Steve) on 7/13/11

The Advocate reports that violent crimes against LGBT people is increasing at an alarming rate.

From 2009 to 2010, there was an astounding 23% increase in murders of LGBT and HIV-affected people in the United States, with the second highest yearly total ever recorded by the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs.

Twenty-seven LGBT people and HIV-affected people were killed in 2010, according to the latest numbers from the NCAVP. Total incidents of violence, which include victims who survived, were up 13% from 2009 to 2010. The statistics found that LGBT people of color and transgender women were subject to a disproportionate number of attacks — 70% of the 27 murders in 2010 were LGBT and HIV-affected people of color, while transgender women made up 44% of the murder victims.

Aside from providing the sobering statistics, the coalition issued recommendations to stop or slow the violence:

-Fund critically needed research and data collection on hate violence against LGBT and HIV-affected communities, their access to services, and violence prevention initiatives.

-Gather data about sexual orientation and gender identity in all federal, state, and local government forms. 

-Create new public and private funding streams and target the use of existing funds to increase access to antiviolence services for LGBT and HIV-affected individuals, particularly for those disproportionately affected by hate violence — i.e. transgender people and people of color.

-Create programs and campaigns to reduce anti-LGBT hate violence. Prioritize the leadership of those most impacted by severe hate violence within these programs. 

-Stop the culture of hate through policymakers and public figures denouncing anti-LGBT violence.

The coalition is coordinated by the New York City Anti-Violence Project; the New York City group found that violence against LGBT and HIV-affected New Yorkers rose 11% from 2009 to 2010, and attacks happened in popular gay neighborhoods such as Chelsea and the West Village.