This week’s lesson is on inclusive hate crimes laws. Merriam-Webster defines hate crimes as those “motivated by hostility to the victim as a member of a group.”
HATE CRIMES ARE MEANT TO CAUSE FEAR AND INTIMIDATION TOWARD A GROUP.
The facts...
*Kentucky hate crimes laws include sexual orientation, but not gender identity.
*Federally, hate crimes laws do not include sexual orientation or gender identity. However, nearly 70% of Americans according to a 2007 Gallup poll support expanding current laws.
*The National Sheriffs’ Association, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, and the U.S. Conference of Mayors all support expanding hate crimes laws to include sexual orientation and gender identity.
*According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), anti-gay hate crimes are the 3rd most frequent kind of hate crimes in America only following race and religion.
Hate crimes laws do not affect religious freedoms. For example, current proposed federal legislation to expand protections refers to physically violent acts and intentions to hurt or intimidate certain groups of people, not to speech or non-violent expression.
Hate crimes can be horribly brutal. In 2002, Gwen Araujo, a 17-year old transgender student, was brutally murdered by four men who beat her with a shovel, a frying pan, and a barbell; partially strangled her; and buried her alive in the desert-just because she was transgender. There are far too many examples of these brutal crimes, among them the murders of Matthew Shepard and PFC Barry Winchell.
Expanding federal hate crimes laws to include sexual orientation and gender identity will ensure gay and transgender citizens the protections afforded us all on the basis of race, religion, ethnicity and national origin.
HOMEWORK: Retelling the stories of hate crimes can be extremely painful. We’re not going to ask anyone to do that. However, we’ll toss this week’s lesson up on the blog site as normal and open it up for comments if you have them.
In fairness,
Your KFA Team.
Sources: www.merriam-webster.com, www.partnersagainsthate.org, www.sfgate.com, and www.lgbtmap.org.
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