|
|
Want our newsletter delivered to you directly each month? Sign up here to stay up to date on the exciting work we're doing together for LGBTQ+ Justice!
0 Comments
 Intersections highlights NEAT’s work on issues that traditionally have not been seen as LGBTQ+. These issues, while not exclusive to our community, often disproportionately affect LGBTQ+ people. Check out all our issues here. NEAT Endorses the Khalid Jabara and Heather Heyer National Opposition to Hate, Assault, and Threats to Equality (NO HATE) Act
NEAT is proud to be a member of the organizational coalition that sent a letter to Congress in support of the Jabara-Heyer NO HATE Act of 2021. If enacted, the Jabara-Heyer NO HATE Act would make necessary changes to the existing reporting structure and data collection regarding hate crimes. Specifically, the legislation would:
This legislation was previously introduced in the 116th Congress but did not get any traction at that time. With the change in legislative leadership and the rise of hate crimes against AAPI and other minority communities, the Act is gaining new momentum. The reintroduction of this legislation has bipartisan and bicameral support, as evidenced in this press release by Republican Senator Jerry Moran (KS). Khalid Jabara & Heather Heyer In 2016, Khalid Jabara was murdered in Tulsa, Oklahoma by a neighbor, and, in 2017, Heather Heyer was similarly killed in Charlottesville, Virginia by a car driven into a group of counter-protestors. These were high-profile cases prosecuted as hate crimes locally, but they went unreported in federal hate crime statistics. This impactful data gap caused civil society to look closely at the hate crimes reporting in the United States. Hate Crimes & the LGBTQ+ Community Following the brutal 1998 murder of Matthew Shepard in Wyoming, his parents, Judy and Dennis Shepard, have been tireless advocates to categorize criminal acts based on an individual’s sexual orientation as a hate crime. In 2009, the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act became law, named after the gay student and a black man who was killed by white supremacists in Texas the same year. The Act expanded the definition of hate crimes to include gender, disability, gender identity, or sexual orientation. The law also removed jurisdictional obstacles to prosecutions of race- and religion-motivated violence. In full support of the NO HATE Act, Judy Shepard notes that hate crimes legislation can be improved, stating that “[e]veryone in this country must be made aware of, and educated on, the need to strengthen current hate crime laws and to pass additional legislation. Stopping the increase of hate speech, the rising number of hate crimes against all marginalized communities, and the constant rise of new hate groups must be a top priority in this country.”  It was a significant week for equality as NEAT and our partners in the Freedom & Opportunity for All Coalition organized nearly 500 constituents to participate in 75 different meetings with lawmakers representing 38 states to talk about the urgency of passing the Equality Act. Attendees reflected the diverse and deep support of the American public who support this legislation: transgender kids and their parents, faith leaders, conservatives, and more.
Following Lobby Day, NEAT and the Human Rights Campaign hosted attendees for a virtual follow event up called "Drag, Debrief & Action" featuring Drag Race, Broadway and Musical superstar, Peppermint. Those in attendance got to share their experiences from Lobby Day and take additional actions to stay involved in the campaign. Peppermint thanked everyone for their tireless efforts and expressed how important advocacy will be in passing the Equality Act. "Arizona is one of a majority of states in the U.S. that lack LGBTQ nondiscrimination protections, which means people like me are vulnerable to being denied services or kicked out of public places just because of who we are," said Kathy Young. a lesbian living in Arizona, who was quoted in a press release about the event. "I was happy for the opportunity to participate in Lobby Day and tell my story in hopes of moving the Equality Act forward in Congress. As a parent, I worry every day that I might face discrimination and that it could hurt my ability to care for my family. Passing the Equality Act would allow me to feel safer and more respected when I am going about my life." The Equality Act would update federal civil rights law to ensure explicit and comprehensive protections for LGBTQ people from discrimination in virtually every area of life. The legislation passed the U.S. House of Representatives in a bipartisan victory and had a historic hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee last month. But we still need your help to get this across the finish line! Sign up here to join a phone bank and make calls from home, or click here to contact your Senator to express your support for the Equality Act. |
RSS Feed
The Home of Collaborative Action and Partnerships for LGBTQ+ Justice
