On June 4, the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (NCAVP) held a press conference for the release of its report, "Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Queer, and HIV-Affected [LGBTQH] Hate Violence in 2012."
The NCAVP is a collaboration of 40 local LGBTQH anti-violence organizations that provides public education as well as advocacy and support for victims of LGBTQH hate violence. The report is a compilation of data collected from 15 organizations across 16 states.
In 2012, 2,016 incidents of anti-LGBTQH violence were reported, a 4-percent increase from 2011. Twenty-five anti-LGBTQH homicides were reported, the fourth highest homicide rate NCAVP ever recorded. In Illinois, harassment has increased dramatically, climbing from 3 reports in 2011 to 26 in 2012. Discrimination has also increased dramatically, climbing from zero reports in 2011 to 19 last year.
Transgender individuals and LGBTQH people of color are disproportionately targeted. In 2012, 73 percent of anti-LGBTQH homicides were people of color and 54 percent were transgender women. LGBTQH people of color were 1.8 times as likely to experience physical violence as white LGBTQH people. Transgender people were 1.7 times as likely to experience threats and intimidation compared to LGBTQ non-transgender individuals.
In Illinois, African-Americans made up 30 percent of the victims of hate violence and transgendered individuals made up 23 percent of the victims of hate violence. Out of the 25 homicides reported to the NCAVP in 2012, two were in Chicago. Both individuals were transgender women of color. Lisa Gilmore, director of education and victim advocacy for the Center on Halsted, told Windy City Times: "It does seem to fit the pattern we see at the national level."
The poor relationship between law enforcement and the LGBTQH community has led to underreporting. Only 56 percent of the survivors who reported an incident to NCAVP also reported it to the police. Of those who did report an incident to the police, 27 percent reported police hostility, an 18-percent increase from 2011. Forty-eight percent reported police misconduct, a 16-percent increase from 2011.
During the press conference, Gilmore stressed that anti-LGBTQH violence is frequently not labeled as such. Gilmore said "the murders of Paige Clay and Tiffany Gooden are not currently categorized as hate violence by local law enforcement as no suspects have been questioned in relation to their deaths. Therefore ... despite evidence of overkill levels and execution style violence, the murders of these two young people will likely not officially be labeled hate motivated." Gilmore told Windy City Times that, while she has not seen an increase or a decrease in police violence, "people do talk about feeling intimidated or threatened."
The relationship with the police is particularly poor for transgender women and LGBTQH people of color. Maria Carolina Moralis, program director of Community United Against Violence, said "the increased integration of police and immigration are expanding the mistrust between LGBTQH people of color and the police."
Transgender people of color were twice as likely as nontransgender white people to experience police violence. Transgender women were nearly 3 times as likely as those who were not transgender women to experience police violence. Ejeris Dixon, deputy director of community organizing and public advocacy at NCAVP, said NCAVP members have reported incidents of police profiling sex workers; conducting raids; using excessive force; making arrests at bars, pride parades and businesses; making arrests for public displays of affection and possession of condoms; and refusing to help survivors when they seek support.
Milan Nicole, youth organizer of BreakOUT in New Orleans and a transgender woman of color, said, "I was not engaged in sex work at the time, but [an undercover officer] asked me if I would come to his motel and have a drink. All of a sudden, four more police came and arrested me." Said Nicole, "Some of the girls engage in sex work because of survival. Trans women of color don't have the job opportunities, the education, and their families reject them."
Chai Jindasurat, NCAVP coordinator, offered recommendations such as police accountability; prohibition of profiling; LGBTQH training; access to jobs programs, housing and safe schools; an increase in data collection; and an increase in funding for anti-violence programs.
The full report is at www.avp.org/storage/documents/ncavp_2012_hvreport_final.pdf.
