15 Anti-LGBT Crimes in March?
Stop the Violence: The March 20 Silent March to protest and recognize anti-LGBT violence made its way from Columbia Heights to Dupont Circle. (Luis Gomez Photos)
By Michelle Lancaster. You can follow her and let her know your news on Twitter @MichLancaster. Email her at michellel[AT]borderstan.com.
Metro Weekly did a quick tally of the hate crimes in our area in March and found that at least 15 actual or threatened assaults based on sexual orientation occurred during the month. This is particularly noteworthy, given the recently held march for victims of crimes based on a discrimination bias.
The list of crimes cited in the story is instructive: it ranges from a gay epithet at a carry out, to family fights over gender orientation, to assault following gender-related slurs and epithets. Is March registering a spike in crimes against gays?
Did the March 20 march against anti-LGBT violence make such crimes better known, or is the awareness-raising activity indirectly inciting a backlash? When it comes to basic rights to live, work, and eat out without being harassed, does it matter what the cause is? Can we please finally have a section of the DC Police devoted to this issue?
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