Report Records Increase in LGBT-Related Murders
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- Category: LGBT Issues
- Published on Saturday, 09 June 2012 12:59
- Written by Lara Landis
- Hits: 348
Last year was a dangerous year to be an LGBT individual. A study published by the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (NCAVP) released its report on crimes against LGBT-identified and HIV positive people. The study found that the overall rate of hate crimes had gone down during the year, but the number of murders recorded increased.
Results of HRC LGBT Youth Study Released
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- Category: LGBT Issues
- Published on Thursday, 07 June 2012 17:34
- Written by Lara Landis
- Hits: 424
The Human Rights coalition released a survey of LGBT youth. The results are available in a report it put online. The HRC also put out an infographic people can share. Asexuals were not targeted specifically, and the results do not apply specifically to the Asexual community.
The survey asked what things that participants would like to see changed. The commission broke the results down into LGBT-individuals and non LGBT-identified individuals.
LGBT Identified Youth – Thing They Would Like to Say Changed
- Understanding/Tolerance/Hate – 18%
- My Parent/Family Situation – 15%
- Where I Live/Who I Live With – 9%
- Money/Debt/Finances – 20%
- Appearance/Weight – 9%
- Improving Mental Health – 7%
Participants were also asked about the issues that concerned them. Respondents also showed a concrete difference in the concerns between LGBT and Non-LGBT Youth:
LGBT Youth Response:
- Non-accepting families -- 26%
- School bullying/Problems’ – 21%
- Fear of Being Out or Open -- 18%
Non-LGBT Identified Youth Response:
- Classes/Exams/Grades – 25%
- College/Career – 14%
- Financial Pressures Related to College or Job – 11%
Although this may be a disappointing study, there has not been a similar survey conducted of the Asexual community, and the poll does not indicate which group the Asexuals who participated in the poll were included.
Source:
Erie, Illinois School District Bans Materials from GLSEN
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- Category: LGBT Issues
- Published on Monday, 04 June 2012 19:23
- Written by Lara Landis
- Hits: 544
Erie, Illinois – The Erie Community School District recently banned materials from the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network. Representatives from the school district have issued a statement saying that no materials promoting same sex lifestyles will be used in the elementary school curriculum.
Read more: Erie, Illinois School District Bans Materials from GLSEN
Move CeCe McDonald to A Womens' Prison
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- Category: LGBT Issues
- Published on Thursday, 07 June 2012 11:44
- Written by Lara Landis
- Hits: 437
CeCe McDonald defended herself against her attackers. She earned a jail sentence for her terms. While the story is itself an indication of inequality in the justice system, there is another development in the case that will put McDonald at further risk. After her sentencing, McDonald was housed in a mens' facility.
Minnesota policies may not be in line with the federal policy, which requires female transgender inmates to be housed in gender appropriate facilities. The author of this piece is not an expert or even familiar with the state, local or county laws on the matter. What is known, even to people who have little familiarity with the case, is that the defendant received poor legal advice and should have fought the charges against her.
A petition on Change.org has asked the correctional facility to move her into housing appropriate for her gender. The Support CeCe webpage contains links to the petition and information on her arrest and conviction. She is currently being held in the St. Cloud State prison. The judge sentenced her to 41 months after she accepted a plea bargain.
The Support CeCe blog calls the trials and the sentence a clear-cut example of racism and transphobia. Violence against transgender women is epidemic, but transgender people of color are often treated worse than their Caucasian counterparts.
If the St. Cloud facility wishes to keep McDonald safe, they need to remove her from the current prison population. Her sentence, ideally, never should have been handed down.
Sources:
Petition to Transfer CeCe to Shakopee Women's Correctional Facility
President Obama Declares June LGBT Pride Month
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- Category: LGBT Issues
- Published on Saturday, 02 June 2012 13:29
- Written by Lara Landis
- Hits: 299
President Obama signed a declaration making June LGBT pride month. President Clinton made a similar declaration in June of 1999. The Republican administration that held office in the first decade of the 21st Century did not sign any of these declarations. Many pride celebrations take place throughout the month, and government buildings often fly LGBT pride flags in support of the decision.