Every Day, a LGBT person confronts violence

[metta]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] Every day, someone you care about crosses the street, takes the long way to class, or wonders if this is the day the taunts turn to blows. [/FONT]
​

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] Every day, somewhere in this country, an LGBT person confronts the real threat of violence. Yet even though anti-LGBT hate crimes are on the rise, there are no federal protections against these attacks. [/FONT]
​

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] But that can change, if we all act urgently. [/FONT]
​

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] The Matthew Shepard Act would finally cover LGBT people under our nation's hate crimes laws. Hundreds of HRC activists will be on Capitol Hill Thursday talking with their lawmakers about this bill – will you back them up with an email? [/FONT]
​

Please ask Congress to support the Matthew Shepard Act:


http://www.hrcactioncenter.org/campaign/pass_shepard

 

[fabulouslyghetto]

It's significantly easy to weasel out of a hate crime charge. There's no point in making these laws if they're not going to be enforced.

 

[metta]

^
I would assume that the legal system will put enough pressure on the police to make sure that they are enforced when ever possible. That is what lawyers like to do.

 

[metta]

 

[fabulouslyghetto]

I would assume that the legal system will put enough pressure on the police to make sure that they are enforced when ever possible. That is what lawyers like to do.

You're assuming that both the legal system and police force aren't ripe with homophobia and general misconceptions about homosexuals. These laws MIGHT be more applicable if diversity training is required.

When an ex boyfriend tried to stab me I called the cops. They came, interviewed us, antagonized ME because he was in worse shape (more beat up) than I was, and left. No police report, nothing, and I showed them both the knife he used and blood stains on the carpet.

The reality of the world is that both police and the court system is full of people with subconscious prejudices that affect the way they approach each case. Trust me on that one.

 

[metta]

^
If you had a good attorney to represent you it would have been handled differently.
Did you tell the police that you wanted to press charges?

 

[fabulouslyghetto]

If you had a good attorney to represent you it would have been handled differently.

Believe it or not, the world isn't that simple.

 

[Yves]

^
If you had a good attorney to represent you it would have been handled differently.
Did you tell the police that you wanted to press charges?

The problem seems more complex IMO. Violence against LGBTs is a problem (including not only hate crimes but also same-sex domestic violence) but those who first respond (police, health personnel, etc) are not necessarily trained to deal with diversity in a non judgmental way. Diversity training is a relatively new concept and in many places is inadequate or non-existent.

The Washington DC Metropolitan Police Department’s Gay and Lesbian Liaison Unit (GLLU) seems to offer a good template. The GLLU is staffed by openly gay, lesbian and transgender members of the department and their allies and deals with a wide range of issues from hate crimes to same-sex domestic abuse.

More on the GLLU:
http://www.gllu.org/about/index.htm

 

[fabulouslyghetto]

The problem seems more complex IMO. Violence against LGBTs is a problem (including not only hate crimes but also same-sex domestic violence) but those who first respond (police, health personnel, etc) are not necessarily trained to deal with diversity in a non judgmental way. Diversity training is a relatively new concept and in many places is inadequate or non-existent.

*standing ovation*

*thunderous applause*

*throws drawers onstage*

 

[fabulouslyghetto]

And now that the peanut gallery is done pissing blood all over itself, i'll sign it.

My favorite drama queen is back!

After all, it's a start - which some of you pessimistic people seem to underscore in your inane attempts at trying to throw what you think is realism in our faces.

Uber-cynical, skeptical, and condescending, there's a surprise.

The concerns I raised were legit, though it's easy to downplay when you're not the one dealing with it. You do a good job of erasing all context and practicality, the bread and butter of your negative disposition.

 

[Huskerboy]

We should all be sending an email to the appropriate people about this Matthew Shepard Act.

I agree. This is something that affects us all and we should support the efforts being made.

 

[metta]

Help pass hate crimes legislation once and for all.







https://secure.ga3.org/03/a_hate_crimes/nQd1M5_MaBTLu?

http://www.endthelies.org