New York –
Representatives from the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (NCAVP) hailed the planned inclusion of language in a hate crimes measure being introduced in the US House of Representatives that would include language that not only explicitly cover lesbians and gay men, but also people of transgender experience.
"While hate violence is a all too common experience for lesbians, gay men and bisexual people, people of transgender experience are unfortunately even more at risk for violence," said Clarence Patton, NCAVP's Acting Executive Director.
According to NCAVP's recently released annual report on hate violence against lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and people of transgender experience, transgender people comprised 11% of all LGBT victims of hate violence.
"We hope now that the Senate version of the bill will be similarly inclusive and enable us to move forward on this without leaving anyone behind," concluded Patton.
The National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (NCAVP) addresses the pervasive problem of violence committed against and within the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) and HIV-positive communities. NCAVP is a coalition of programs that document and advocate for victims of anti-LGBT and anti-HIV/AIDS violence/harassment, domestic violence, sexual assault, police misconduct and other forms of victimization. NCAVP is dedicated to creating a national response to the violence plaguing these communities. Further, NCAVP supports existing anti-violence organizations and emerging local programs in their efforts to document and prevent such violence.
NCAVP's Report on Anti-LGBT Violence in 2004 is available here.
