Violence against GLBT community increases

A new report by the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs shows that violence, harassment, and intimidation against gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people in Minnesota went up substantially in 2007. The report details experiences of hate violence across the US and identifies both national and state-specific anti-GLBT violence trends throughout the country.
 
Minnesota Numbers
While nationally, overall reports increased by an average of 24%, Minnesota saw a 135% increase in reports. Trends included a 327% increase in felony-level assaults and a 200% increase in the need for hospitalization or other long term care for injuries sustained during these assaults.
 
“These numbers reflect a two-fold reality,” according to OutFront Minnesota Anti-Violence Program Manager Rebecca Waggoner Kloek. “The increase in reports reflects both a rise in violence toward the GLBT community and an increased willingness on the part of victims to report their attacks. While Minnesota continues to see a significant increase in force used and injuries sustained, more people are beginning to report those assaults to law enforcement. For example, this year we saw a 50% increase in the number of clients who reported their cases to the police.”
 
The increased reporting demonstrates the improved responsiveness of police and social service agencies who come in contact with victims of GLBT-related hate and bias crimes. Waggoner Kloek credits outreach and training efforts conducted by OutFront Minnesota as a contributing factor to those agencies’ enhanced ability to serve the community.
 
At the same time, Waggoner Kloek points to the underlying problem of societal attitudes toward gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people which lead to hate and bias crimes to begin with.
 
“We know that anti-GLBT bias still persists in our laws, our schools, our workplaces, our media and other arenas in society.  The ultimate solution to eliminating hate and bias crimes is to address discriminatory attitudes and to strive toward a more fair and just society overall. We need to be working toward a place that is safe for all Minnesotans.”