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Year In Review: Huge Spike In Gay-Related Violence
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by Rhonda J Mangus | December 28, 2008 at 08:38 am
651 views | 70 Recommendations | 20 comments
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"There has definitely been a huge spike. I don't think anybody knows why," Wilchins said.
Since 1992, the Department of Justice, through the FBI, has jointly published an annual report on Hate Crime Statistics. FBI statistics show there were 1,265 hate crimes based on sexual orientation in 2007, up from 1,017 two years earlier and 1,239 in 2003. That compares to 3,820 racially motivated incidents in 2007 and 1,400 in which the victim's religion was a factor.
The vast majority of brutality against gays is carried out by young men, usually acting in groups, said Riki Wilchins, executive director of Gender Public Advocacy Coalition, a Washington nonprofit that works in schools to address discrimination.
Their victims most often are other young men with feminine demeanors or transgender women, said Wilchins. "These assailants are looking to eradicate and exterminate something that enrages them, and that is what makes them hate crimes," he said.
Many of the incidents that have captured headlines this year — from the February shooting death of a gay teenager at his Southern California middle school to this month's slaying of a Brooklyn man who was fatally beaten while walking arm-and-arm with his brother — fit Wilchins' profile.Larry King, the 15-year-old shot by a classmate, wore feminine clothing and makeup. Jose Sucuzhanay, 31, was beaten with a baseball bat in Brooklyn and kicked by three men who jumped out of a car yelling anti-gay and anti-Hispanic slurs.
The unidentified woman who was sexually assaulted in Richmond on Dec. 13 also was jumped by a group. Detectives say she was attacked after she got out of her car, which bore a rainbow gay pride sticker.
Police are offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of four men who allegedly kidnapped and gang-raped for nearly an hour [the] 28-year-old Richmond woman, who was left naked when they fled in her car.
The National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs, a network of organizations working to address gay-related violence, has tracked numerous other anti-gay crimes this year. They include the deaths of transgender women in Tennessee and Colorado; an arson that destroyed the home of a 65-year-old gay man in New York, and a spate of street beatings in Seattle's gay district.
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Rhonda J Mangus
North Tonawanda, New York, United States
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Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (20)
at 08:46 on December 28th, 2008
This is a worrisome trend and I did read earlier that this is not limited to the US.
However not many solutions seem to be offered on how to counter this trend.
at 10:58 on December 28th, 2008
Paschen, thank you for reading, commenting, and for the recommendation. Yes, it is a worrisome trend and one I do not see resolved any time soon, and at both the domestic and international levels. When the United States' failed to sign the recent European Initiative and when its own government fails to enact federal legislation to protect the rights of its GLBT members, I think this sends a strong message that violence against the GLBT Community is (and will be) tolerated even though many are working against this violence as evidenced, in part, in the videos uploaded to this story.
at 09:53 on December 28th, 2008
Thanks for the story.
at 11:04 on December 28th, 2008
You are very welcome, jessica.lam. Thank you for reading, commenting, and for the recommendation!
at 11:03 on December 28th, 2008
(Spam comment deleted.)
at 11:04 on December 28th, 2008
Thank you, Rachel!
at 11:07 on December 28th, 2008
Crime gays / race should be dropping. It is a shame to see that we still have crime directed at these folks as every other stat says we have become more tolerant. No so from these numbers. Thanks for making me aware of this. Good information to know.
at 11:18 on December 28th, 2008
politisite, you are very welcome. Thank you for reading, commenting, and for the recommendation!
at 11:47 on December 28th, 2008
Unfortunately I can't say I'm surprised, but this is really worrying for all members of society - not just those affected directly.
at 19:03 on December 28th, 2008
Amy, thank you for reading, commenting, and for the recommendation!
at 12:33 on December 28th, 2008
There are always a few on the far fringe who will try to use violence in what should be a political issue. Any who commit violence should serve time in prison.
at 19:17 on December 28th, 2008
158, thank you for reading, commenting, and for the recommendation! Unfortunately, this matter is an issue of Human and Civil Rights that has become political and where violence is seemingly commonplace, as well as under-reported.
at 12:48 on December 28th, 2008
Thanks for the updated piece about Hate Crimes against the GLBT, Rhonda. Christine Quinn is among the most respected and vigilant voices against Hate Crimes committed in the tri-burroughs.
at 19:19 on December 28th, 2008
Pythiian1, thank you for the information on Ms. Quinn, and for reading and recommending this story.
at 15:43 on December 28th, 2008
Thank you for bringing these statistics to people's attention. Sometimes what seems to be (like a decrease in prejudice or bigotry) is more of an illusion. In this case likely the tendency to be less direct and upfront about it because it is less socially acceptable.
at 21:00 on December 28th, 2008
You are very welcome, harringtola. Thank you for reading, commenting, and for the recommendation.
at 18:32 on December 31st, 2008
It certainly seems to be on the rise. Two elderly gay men were brutally murdered in Indianapolis this year [after being taunted and harrassed for weeks] and.. only two news outlets talked about it. A double homicide of elderly men? That's not news? What is going on? Where is the media?
at 21:02 on January 1st, 2009
elena (not verified), thank you very much for your comments and questions. According to "The Bilerico Project", Indiana's GLBT Community is faced with many concerns, including no Hate Crimes law. Also, in addition to the double homicide you mention, a transgender woman and her boyfriend, along with a dog found in the room, were murdered over the holiday. The reporting of this crime by numerous television stations is of concern to the community. The latest update indicates that police have a suspect in custody. The story can be read at "The Bilerico Project".
at 19:51 on February 9th, 2009
In San Francisco, there were organized patrols in the late '70s (not sure) and in the '80s (am sure) to catch the young men who were looking to beat up gay men. I thought it was a great idea. Passivity doesn't work here and the police have too much to do.
Having patrols also made a statement that probably helped deter violence.
I don't like hate crime laws. If you attack someone, it doesn't matter what the reason is. It is a crime. I don't see what you get by adding another charge because of an intent. Illegal violence is still illegal.
at 05:33 on February 10th, 2009
Roy C, thank you for reading, commenting, and for the recommendation! Hate Crime legislation is a complicated subject that falls into two categories: Hate Crimes, Hate Speech. There are arguments for and against the legislation, here.
"I don't like hate crime laws. If you attack someone, it doesn't matter what the reason is. It is a crime. I don't see what you get by adding another charge because of an intent. Illegal violence is still illegal."
The reason behind a crime is very important. The law technically distinguishes between motive and intent (Mens rea), the mental element of the offense that often accompanies the physical element.
In the US, racial and religious biases have inspired most hate crime legislation. However, the 1969 United States Federal Hate Crime law fails to include all groups that are targeted for hate crimes. The law has yet to be expanded to included bias motivated crimes for the reason of gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability (see Matthew Shepard Act).