Speak Compassion

The FBI released hate crime stats for 2005 today.  The stats show that hate crimes on the whole fell about 6%.  Race was the major bais crime and gays fall in about third highest on the list below religion.

Hate Crime Statistics, 2005, includes the following information:

• There were 5,190 hate crime offenses classified as crimes against persons in 2005.
  Intimidations accounted for 48.9 percent, simple assaults for 30.2 percent, and aggravated assaults for 20.5 percent. Six murders as well as 3 forcible rapes were reported as hate crimes.
• Of the 3,109 hate crime offenses classified as crimes against property, 53.6 percent were directed at individuals, 9.8 percent were against businesses or financial institutions, 8.9 percent were against government, and 6.8 percent were against religious organizations. The remaining 20.9 percent were directed at other, multiple, or unknown victim types. Damage/destruction/vandalism was the most frequently reported crime against property, accounting for 81.3 percent of the total.
• Of the 6,804 known offenders reported in 2005, 60.5 percent were white, and 19.9 percent were black. The race was unknown for 12.3 percent, and other races accounted for the remaining known offenders.
• The majority (30.0 percent) of hate crime incidents in 2005 occurred in or near residences or homes; followed by 18.3 percent on highways, roads, alleys, or streets; 13.5 percent at colleges or schools; 6.6 percent in parking lots or garages; and 4.3 percent at churches, synagogues, or temples. The remaining 27.3 percent of hate crime incidents occurred at other specified locations, multiple locations, or other/unknown locations.

So, what is the problem with these statistics?  Two of the largest reporting cities, did not report.   These stats do not reflect New York or Phoenix.    So what good are these numbers when they do not reflect the whole of the issue?  New York had more than its share of hate violence in 2005, but this report doesn’t reflect that.   New York also has a higher population of GLBT folks in it, so why is that not reported or reflected in this report?

Members of the anti-gay forces are already using this incomplete information to intimidate and mock the gay community saying we “exaggerate” the problem of violence against gays.  I would ask this man, how many is enough for their to be a problem?  Doesn’t it matter if it is one person’s life or millions?   Is one life not worthy of protection?

One of the major challenges to collecting hate crime data on Gays and Lesbians is that many do not report the crimes for fear of being “outed”.   In many cities hate crime against GLBT folks are not even tracked or reported to the FBI.  The numbers are not a true reflection of the violence against GLBT folks in this country.

I will add to this thought of the day that if I can find this information on reporting flaws, then so can people like DL Foster, a man who claims gays are not victims.   DL is doing nothing to help stop the violence and he is against adding gays to the Federal Hate crimes act.   He is against teaching kids about tolerance of gays, and he is against anti-bullying laws that protect kids from being bullyed based on real or perceived sexual orientation.  So, if DL Foster isn’t trying to stop the crimes, doesn’t want to help prevent the crimes then that must mean he silently approves of them.   Until his actions meet his words, he is silently nodding his head in approval of hate crimes.  Of course this is just my humble opinion. 

This newest report also shows what I have been saying all along.  Hate speech does lead to hate crimes.  Since September 11th, we have seen an increase in the amount of hate speech about muslims.  This report also show the increase in hate crimes against muslims.  

“[I]t is clear that there remains a growing atmosphere of fear and hostility toward American Muslims, Arab-Americans and South Asians,” this year’s report concluded, noting that recent public opinion surveys have likewise shown a rise in anti-Muslim sentiment among the general public here.

It is more clear each year that whatever group is getting the most hate speech is also the one with the rise in violence.   As long as we permit as a society that some population can be demonized, dehuamnize and made the enemy, violence will follow that.   Words can kill is the lesson to be learned.