Windy City Media Group Frontpage News

THE VOICE OF CHICAGO'S GAY, LESBIAN, BI, TRANS AND QUEER COMMUNITY SINCE 1985

home search facebook twitter join
Gay News Sponsor Windy City Times 2023-09-06
DOWNLOAD ISSUE
Donate

Sponsor
Sponsor
Sponsor

  WINDY CITY TIMES

NGLTF calls for end of racial profiling
From a news release
2012-04-17

This article shared 2602 times since Tue Apr 17, 2012
facebook twitter google +1 reddit email


WASHINGTON, April 17 — The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Action Fund submitted written testimony (see www.thetaskforce.org/downloads/release_materials/tfaf_racial_profiling_testimony_041712.pdf ) for today's hearing on "Ending Racial Profiling in America," held by the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Human Rights.

The hearing is examining the disturbing presence of racial profiling in law enforcement and exploring proposed solutions, including the End Racial Profiling Act and closing loopholes in the U.S. Department of Justice's racial profiling guidance.

"Racial profiling undermines a pivotal principle in our nation's criminal justice system: An individual is innocent until proven otherwise. Focusing on characteristics, rather than behaviors, to identify suspected wrongdoers is misguided, wasteful and even dangerous to those who are unfairly targeted," said Rea Carey, executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. "Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people of color know too well how easily it is to be singled out for harassment and persecution as people living at the intersection of racism and anti-LGBT bias."

The Task Force testimony details how LGBT people of color are disproportionately affected by racial profiling. It particularly spotlights the deplorable treatment of transgender people of color at the hands of law enforcement, as found in the groundbreaking study, Injustice at Every Turn: A Report of the National Transgender Discrimination Survey, from the Task Force and National Center for Transgender Equality.

Injustice at Every Turn found, for example, that 41 percent of black and 21 percent of Latino/a transgender people reported being detained in a prison or jail cell because they are transgender, compared to 4 percent of white transgender people.

The Task Force calls upon the subcommittee to pass the End Racial Profiling Act and to work toward the measure's full congressional passage; and strengthen and expand restrictions against racial profiling by federal law enforcement agencies.

"We thank the subcommittee for holding the first hearing on this critical issue since 2001. We look forward to continuing the dialogue on how to bring an end to discriminatory racial profiling practices once and for all," said Carey.

The Task Force's full testimony here:

Senate Judiciary Committee, Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Human Rights Hearing on Ending Racial Profiling in America

Rea Carey, Executive Director, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Action Fund

April 17, 2012

National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Action Fund Testimony, Testimony of Rea Carey

Executive Director, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Action Fund

Before the Senate Judiciary Committee

Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Human Rights

April 17, 2012

"Ending Racial Profiling In America"

Chairman Durbin, Ranking Member Graham and members of the Subcommittee: I am honored to submit testimony for the record on behalf of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Action Fund regarding the Subcommittee's hearing on racial profiling and S. 1670, the End Racial Profiling Act (ERPA). The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Action Fund is the oldest national organization advocating for the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people. The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Action Fund and its sister organization the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force work to end all forms of discrimination in the United States, including discriminatory law enforcement policies that disparately impact racial minorities.

We thank you for holding this hearing on this critical issue. As research and data have shown, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people come from every walk of life — we are a geographically, economically, religiously and racially diverse community. We are also a community that faces many hurdles in life, including discriminatory treatment at the hands of law enforcement. Our recent study, Injustice at Every Turn: A Report of the National Transgender Discrimination Survey, sheds light on shocking treatment of transgender people by law enforcement. The most extreme of this discriminatory treatment falls on transgender people of color.

While many transgender people, regardless of their race, suffer disrespectful and harmful treatment by law enforcement, the evidence shows that transgender people of color are impacted

National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Action Fund Testimony

3

much more than their white counterparts regardless of their race. Forty-seven percent of black and Latino/a transgender people reported being treated disrespectfully by police. The disproportionate treatment impacts all racial minorities though; 44 percent of Asian transgender people; 35 percent of American Indian transgender people; and 42 percent of multiracial transgender people reported disrespectful treatment at the hands of law enforcement. These figures compare to 25 percent of white transgender people. Similar trends for disproportionate representation in police mistreatment of transgender people of color are also found in physical and sexual assaults. Shockingly, 41 percent of black and 21 percent of Latino/a transgender people report being detained in a prison or jail cell because they are transgender compared to 4 percent of white transgender people.1

While we are outraged by the treatment of our transgender family and friends by law enforcement and the disproportionate impact on transgender people of color we are equally concerned about racial profiling in general in the United States. The very concept of racial profiling goes against the founding principles of our country and the basis of criminal law that each individual is innocent until proven otherwise. It is racial profiling whenever a law enforcement department or individual arbitrarily uses race, religion, ethnicity, or national origin as a factor in deciding who should be questioned or investigated. These are characteristics only relevant as part of a specific suspect description. Any law enforcement system focusing on characteristics to identify wrongdoers is both misguided and a waste of precious resources. Law enforcement should focus on policing techniques that identify potential wrongdoers using actions and behaviors instead of demographic characteristics.

1 Grant, Jaime M., Lisa A. Mottet, Justin Tanis, Jack Harrison, Jody L. Herman, and Mara Keisling. Injustice at Every Turn: A Report of the National Transgender Discrimination Survey. Washington: National Center for Transgender Equality and National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, 2011.

National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Action Fund Testimony

4

The lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community has a long history of heightened fear of law enforcement. Racial profiling compounds that problem for our community and causes communities of color to fear federal, state and local law enforcement instead of feeling safe to work with them to make all of our communities safer.

The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Action Fund is encouraged by the Subcommittee's leadership in holding a hearing on ending racial profiling. To be sure, this is not an easy conversation, but it is one that must be had to end misguided practices utilized by law enforcement departments across the country. We are grateful for the opportunity to submit our position on the unjust and ineffective practice of racial profiling in law enforcement. We urge the Subcommittee to move quickly to take concrete actions that will help put an end to these counterproductive practices.

 Pass the "End Racial Profiling Act" (S. 1670) out of Subcommittee and work towards its passage by Congress to institute a federal ban on profiling based on race, religion, ethnicity, and national origin at the federal, state, and local levels;

 Urge the Department of Justice to amend the 2003 Guidance Regarding the Use of Race by Federal Law Enforcement Agencies to prohibit profiling based on religion and national origin, to remove national and border security loopholes, to cover law enforcement surveillance activities, to apply to state and local law enforcement agencies acting in partnership with federal agencies or receiving federal funds, and make the guidance enforceable.

Again, thank you for this opportunity to express our views on racial profiling by law enforcement. The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Action Fund welcomes this and future opportunities to further the dialogue and bring an end to discriminatory racial profiling practices.


This article shared 2602 times since Tue Apr 17, 2012
facebook twitter google +1 reddit email

Out and Aging
Presented By

  ARTICLES YOU MIGHT LIKE

Gay News

WORLD French fund, mausoleum, Abrazo Grupal, Biden, Billie Jean King
2023-09-21
French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna announced a fund to help promote the rights of LGBTQ+ people, French24 reported. She made the announcement at the 15th anniversary of an LGBTQ+ group at the United Nations at the ...


Gay News

NATIONAL Sarah McBride, TIME100 lists, Kentucky clerk, suspects arrested
2023-09-21
A poll showed that Delaware Democrat Sarah McBride—who is bidding to become the nation's first openly transgender member of Congress—leads her primary opponents by a wide margin, The Hill reported. In a survey of likely Democratic ...


Gay News

Chicago musician, producer and DJ Don Crescendo killed in Avondale stabbing
2023-09-20
Chicago's LGBTQ+ nightlife community and allies have rallied around the family and close friends of local longtime musician, producer and DJ Rodney Donovan Taylor, a.k.a. Don Crescendo, in the wake of his death by stabbing last ...


Gay News

Pritzker and Brady-Davis honored at Planned Parenthood gala
2023-09-17
On the evening of Sept. 14, Planned Parenthood Illinois Action (PPIA) and Planned Parenthood Illinois Action PAC (PPIA PAC) organizations presented their annual Fighting Forward Gala fundraiser. The event shone ...


Gay News

NATIONAL Lesbian politician, Nancy Pelosi, bomb threat, politician dies, Lyft
2023-09-15
Kathy Kozachenko—the first out politician elected to public office in the country—will be honored with a statue on the 50th anniversary of her historic election, per The Advocate. The city of Ann Arbor, Michigan, will honor ...


Gay News

Olivia Hill becomes first trans person elected in Tennessee
2023-09-15
Olivia Hill is the first openly transgender person ever elected to Nashville's Metro Council, per The Tennessean. And according to LGBTQ+ Victory Fund, Hill, 57, is the first transgender woman elected in Tennessee. Hill secured one ...


Gay News

Newsom ends California's travel ban against anti-LGBTQ+ states
2023-09-14
On Sept. 13, California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that he signed SB 447 by Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins (D-San Diego), which ends the state's restriction on taxpayer-funded travel by state agencies and departments ...


Gay News

In D.C., Black LGBTQ+ lawmakers protest Nigerian wedding arrests
2023-09-14
On Sept. 12, Black LGBTQ+ lawmakers—led by Maryland state Del. Gabriel Acevero and D.C. Councilmember Zachary Parker, and alongside the National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC) and other advocacy groups—protested outside ...


Gay News

Illinois appeals court hears Jussie Smollett request
2023-09-14
On Sept. 12, an Illinois appeals court heard oral arguments regarding embattled gay actor Jussie Smollett lying about a racist and homophobic attack, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. The actor himself—sporting a casual beige jacket and ...


Gay News

Prime minister of Andorra comes out as gay
2023-09-11
Xavier Espot Zamora, the head of the government of the tiny European country of Andorra, has come out as gay—although he added that he never hid his sexual orientation, according to a translated article from The ...


Gay News

'Merchant of Death' talks about exchange with Brittney Griner
2023-09-09
Russian Viktor Bout—the so-called "merchant of death" involved in a prisoner exchange for out WNBA star Brittney Griner late last year—told ESPN that, among other things, he followed Griner's case closely from federal prison in Illinois. ...


Gay News

Protest action to be held at site of Sept. 9 Jason Aldean concert in Tinley Park
2023-09-08
The Revolution Club Chicago has announced a protest action against 46- year-old country music star and Nashville resident Jason Aldean outside of his Highway Desperado Tour appearance Sept. 9 at Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre. The protest ...


Gay News

NATIONAL Historic political win, Columbus situation, trans coach, Gold + Williams
2023-09-08
Fabian Nelson won a Democratic primary runoff in Mississippi's 66th state House district—and he's now the state's first openly gay legislator, The Guardian noted. (Republicans are not running a candidate for the general election sched ...


Gay News

WORLD Couple's win, attack in Beirut, German military, gay ski week
2023-09-08
In Strasbourg, France, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that Bulgaria violated the rights of a same-sex couple (Darina Koilova and Lili Babulkova) by not recognizing their marriage abroad, RFE/RL reported. Rights groups lauded the ...


Gay News

Fundraiser held for MWRD Commissioner Precious Brady-Davis
2023-09-04
Fundraiser held for MWRD Commissioner Precious Brady-Davis By Carrie Maxwell A fundraiser was held Aug. 31 at Sidetrack for newly sworn-in Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRC) Commissioner ...


 


Copyright © 2023 Windy City Media Group. All rights reserved.
Reprint by permission only. PDFs for back issues are downloadable from
our online archives. Single copies of back issues in print form are
available for $4 per issue, older than one month for $6 if available,
by check to the mailing address listed below.

Return postage must accompany all manuscripts, drawings, and
photographs submitted if they are to be returned, and no
responsibility may be assumed for unsolicited materials.
All rights to letters, art and photos sent to Nightspots
(Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago
Gay and Lesbian News and Feature Publication) will be treated
as unconditionally assigned for publication purposes and as such,
subject to editing and comment. The opinions expressed by the
columnists, cartoonists, letter writers, and commentators are
their own and do not necessarily reflect the position of Nightspots
(Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago Gay,
Lesbian, Bisexual and Transegender News and Feature Publication).

The appearance of a name, image or photo of a person or group in
Nightspots (Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times
(a Chicago Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender News and Feature
Publication) does not indicate the sexual orientation of such
individuals or groups. While we encourage readers to support the
advertisers who make this newspaper possible, Nightspots (Chicago
GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago Gay, Lesbian
News and Feature Publication) cannot accept responsibility for
any advertising claims or promotions.

 
 

TRENDINGBREAKINGPHOTOS







Sponsor


 



Donate


About WCMG      Contact Us      Online Front  Page      Windy City  Times      Nightspots
Identity      BLACKlines      En La Vida      Archives      Advanced Search     
Windy City Queercast      Queercast Archives     
Press  Releases      Join WCMG  Email List      Email Blast      Blogs     
Upcoming Events      Todays Events      Ongoing Events      Bar Guide      Community Groups      In Memoriam     
Privacy Policy     

Windy City Media Group publishes Windy City Times,
The Bi-Weekly Voice of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Trans Community.
5315 N. Clark St. #192, Chicago, IL 60640-2113 • PH (773) 871-7610 • FAX (773) 871-7609.