Date: Fri, 04 Jun 1999 13:22:15 -0400 From: Riki Anne Wilchins Subject: HRC ISSUES STATEMENT ON GENDER HATE CRIMES MEDIA ADVISORY - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE . HRC Issues Statement on Gender Hate Crimes . Text of Elizabeth Birch's Statement . A Clarification HRC ISSUES STATEMENT ON GENDER HATE CRIMES [Washington, DC: May 30 99] THE HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN'S Executive Director Elizabeth Birch today released a statement decrying the escalating spiral of hate crimes against gender-different gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people. Ms. Birch's statement, released nationally, focuses on the nearly half-dozen known victims who have died in the last year apparently because of their gender. She notes that both the gay and straight press have largely ignored these murders because they were committed against people who are gender-different or transgendered and calls for an end to "the silent wave of violence." [Text of statement follows.] Declared HRC's Communications Manager Tony Esoldo, "This is very important to us, and we are going to work very, very hard to make sure that public attention is brought to this. The bottom line is: this is an issue we are deeply concerned about." Commented GenderPAC's Riki Anne Wilchins, "HRC has been working with us for three years now to educate Congressmembers on how important it is to keep gender wording in the Hate Crimes Prevention Act. But frankly, it's been an uphill battle because no one on the Hill even knows these people are being killed. That HRC is now also helping to promote public awareness of these murders can only make our job easier." [END] [HRC Statement Begins] HRC CONDEMNS VIOLENT MURDERS OF TRANSGENDERED AMERICANS "It's time to break the silence," says Elizabeth Birch. WASHINGTON New evidence of an alleged murder involving a gay-identified transgendered victim has surfaced in Tampa, Florida, prompting the Human Rights Campaign to appeal to law enforcement, opinion leaders and the press to give voice to this silent wave of violence. The developments in Florida are the latest addition to the growing list of crimes committed against the transgendered community. "The silence on this issue must end. The violence that plagues our nation as a whole continues to tear at the very fiber of our community. How many more victims will there be before public administrators and law officials turn their attention to these murders?" asked Elizabeth Birch, HRC's Executive Director. Compared to the murders of Matthew Shepard and Billy Jack Gaither, both openly gay men who were killed at least in part because of their sexual orientation, the murders and suspected murders of transgendered people over the last year have received far less focus and attention. Yet there has been no lack of victims; tragedies in the past year alone include Rita Hester, stabbed 20 times, near Boston; Vianna Faye Williams, murdered in Jersey City, stabbed repeatedly in the back, neck and chest; in March, Tracey Thompson was found bludgeoned to death in south Georgia. "There is alarming apathy not only in the gay, lesbian, and bisexual community surrounding these crimes, but also a glaring absence of reports of these crimes in the news. Many Americans regard differently-gendered people with hatred and misunderstanding. This will continue to lead to violence if we do not take steps now," said Riki Anne Wilchins, Executive Director of GenderPAC. Wilchins added that while mainstream society has finally decided to take a stand against gay and lesbian related hate crimes, Americans today seem to be apathetic to the plight of the transgendered victim, who may or may not identify as gay or lesbian. The remains recently found in Tampa are thought to be those of Ruby Bota, a transgendered woman who disappeared 11 years ago. The remains were found buried behind the property where Ruby lived with her husband Bob Bota. In a release dated May 12, 1999, the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office stated: "The Sheriff's office located a body today and it is unknown at this time if it is a male or female." As of May 27, 1999, no further information had been released regarding the body. HRC encourages its members and the GLBT community as a whole to voice their concern over this silent wave of violence affecting our community. Legislation currently pending in Congress, the Hate Crimes Prevention Act (HCPA), would provide some basic protections and federal resources to address this wave of violence. HCPA would add the categories of real or perceived sexual orientation and gender to existing federal hate crime laws. To get involved to pass HCPA or to report hate crime incidents against the GLBT community, visit HRC's website at www.hrc.org. The Human Rights Campaign is the largest national lesbian and gay political organization, with members throughout the country. It effectively lobbies Congress, provides campaign support, and educates the public to ensure that lesbian and gay Americans can be open, honest, and safe at home, at work, and in the community. [HRC Statement Ends] Clarification - - - HRC has expressed concern about the May 29 InYourFace press release on gender-inclusion and ENDA, in particular that the final paragraph failed to reflect the breadth of positive work being done by the Human Rights Campaign with the gender community. HRC's stated policy continues to be that it supports "an amendment strategy in the context of ENDA." HRC remains committed to employment protection for all people regardless of their sexual orientation, gender, or gender expression and to working with gender and transgender activists to implement this vision. HRC continues to support ENDA in its current form. The press release's statement that HRC is a "sponsor" may have caused confusion; although HRC is a prime proponent of ENDA, bills are sponsored by members of Congress. ### Subscriptions. Please contact: Subscribe@Gpac.org For prior releases, check the GenderPAC website at: http://www.gpac.org (c) 1999 InYourFace GenderPAC's online news-only service for gender activism.