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Still Fighting for Hate Crimes Act
There were 7,248 incidents of violence against gay and lesbian Americansfrom harassment to homicide-reported during 1988, according to a study on hate crimes statistics released by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force.
More probably were not reported. The number of bias-related crimes (anti-Semitic, racist, homophobic and the like) never has been determined in an official government study. Gay and civil rights activists are fighting to get accurate statistics on how many bias-related crimes are being committed in the United States. Once advocates have objective numbers to prove the extent of the problem, they may be better able to convince legislatures to pass laws prohibiting prejudice-based violence. Currently, no such national laws exist.
Some states, such as Massachusetts, have laws that allow a private citizen to sue the perpetrator of a crime that violates the citizen's rights on the basis of, among other things, sex or race. The Massachusetts law was designed to deal with racial hate crimes. Remedies against violence based on sexual orientation are not provided by this law.
Since gay and civil rights activists need statistics as arguing points, they are lobbying Congress to pass a bill to authorize a study of hate crimes. The bill, the Hate Crimes Statistics Act (S 149), introduced in the Senate by Sen. Paul Simon, D-Ill., would "provide for the collection of data about crimes motivated by race, religion, ethnicity or sexual orientation."
The U.S. Attorney General's office would be responsible for compiling the data, and its findings would carry the authority of the federal government.
The bill creates no new rights, but merely authorizes a study. It is backed by several staunch conservatives, such as Sens. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah; Alfonse D'Amato, R-N.Y.; and Rudy Boschwits, R-Minn.
The House version of the bill (H.R. 1048), introduced by Reps. John Conyers, D-Mich., and Hamilton Fish, RN.Y., passed on June 27. [See related story.]
Last year, the Hate Crimes bill was also passed overwhelmingly by the House, but the session ended before the Senate could act.
The bill was approved by the full Senate Judiciary Committee March 9 and will be taken up by the full Senate when a time slot opens. The bill also has been approved by the House Subcommittee on Criminal Justices, and was passed by the House by a 368-47 vote June 20.
There may be trouble, however, when the Hate Crimes Statistics Act goes to the Senate floor for debate. Sen. Jesse Helms, R-N.C., has informally circulated an anti-gay amendment that states:
"The homosexual movement threatens the strength and the survival of the American family as the basic unit of society. State laws prohibiting sodomy should be enforced. The federal government should not provide discrimination protection on the basis of 'sexual orientation.' School curriculums should not condone homosexuality as an acceptable lifestyle in American society."
An ongoing educational and lobbying campaign is taking place to let members of Congress know that amendments like these are unacceptable and only obstruct important work.
If the Hate Crimes Statistics Act passes, it will be because of a strong coalition effort within the broad civil rights community, including the American Civil Liberties Union, People for the American Way, NAACP, the American Jewish Committee, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and the Human Rights Campaign Fund. Such coalitionbuilding raises awareness and consciousness, helps build a common history, and reinforces mutual goals.
The Hate Crimes bill coalition has existed for two years and represents a major breakthrough. We will be drawing on the bonds formed as part of this coalition in our civil rights work for years into the future. ▼
Chai Feldblum is an attorney for the ACLU AIDS Project.
Laura Markowitz is an editor of a national magazine.
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Nancy Vogl will be performing in Cleveland on August 19 as part of her tour of the Midwest from August 16 through September 2.
After the tour, Vogl is leaving for Spain, where she will be studying as an International Peace Scholar at the Conservatory of Music in Barcelona.
Upon her return to the United States next summer, Vogl will begin working on an album with new material from her visit abroad.
In addition to studying music and politics in Spain, Vogl will take her music and politics to women's communities
Antone F. Feo Clinical Psychologist
which do not get the exposure to the type of music and culture that we know in the States.
On her Midwest tour, Nancy will be performing for audiences at coffeehouses, concerts and house parties, and proceeds will subsidize her European tour.
In Cleveland, she will be appearing at the Unitarian Society at 2728 Lancashire Rd., in Cleveland Heights, at 8:00 p.m. A dance will follow the show.
For more information on Vogl's Cleveland concert, call Oven Productions at 321-3054. ▼
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