Date: Sat, 08 Mar 1997 15:37:56 -0500 From: Riki Anne Wilchins Subject: LETTER TO RENO ON ATLANTA BOMBING MEDIA ADVISORY - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Dana Priesing (703)578-0903, DanaP@WaOnline.com LETTER TO RENO ON ATLANTA BOMBING ================================= Cross-section of Gay Groups Sign-on [February 28, 1997 - Washington DC] ALTHOUGH REPORTS of the recent hate-crime bombing The Otherside identified it as a "gay and lesbian" Atlanta bar, it was well known to residents for its prominent transgender and bisexual clientele, who were also potential targets of the blast. Today GenderPAC took the step of sending a letter to Attorney General Janet Reno highlighting this information, and requesting a meeting to discuss the bombing as a hate crime related to gender, as well as a sexual orientation. [Letter text follows.] The letter was countersigned by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the National Bisexual Nework of the USA (BiNet USA ), and the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF). The National Center for Lesbian Rights sent their own letter, endorsing GenderPAC's request. Erasure at a Sensitive Moment ----------------------------- The issue of transgender and bisexual erasure from coverage of the bombing comes at a particularly sensitive time, as gender activists are poised to return to Capitol Hill for the 2nd National Gender Lobbying Day, May 6th, 1997. High on their agenda will be amending the recently-reauthorized Hate Crimes Statistics Act to include "gender identity." Many feel the bombing presents a perfect opportunity to show why such amendment is necessary. In addition, GenderPAC is set to publish the results of it's first National Survey on TransViolence, for activists to distribute at Lobby Day. The study was developed with the help of the Gay & Lesbian Anti-Violence Project, and is believed to be one of the first large-scale studies of its kind. Noted BiNet's Stephanie, Berger, "Any G/L/B/T person can be a victim of homophobia, biphobia and transphobia, regardless of their actual gender or sexual orientation. We need an inclusive political vision, one which addresses the true diversity of oppressions this community faces." Support from HRC ---------------- HRC had originally written its own letter to the Attorney General which identified the bombing as a gay and lesbian hate-crime, and asked GenderPAC to endorse it. Their Congressional Advocate, DC attorney Dana Priesing agreed to endorse the letter, but inquired about the invisibility of bisexual and transgender people in the description of The Otherside's clientele. After discussions with HRC's Senior Lobbyist Kris Pratt, an additional letter from GenderPAC -- endorsed by HRC -- was agreed upon as a suitable measure. Said Priesing, "We're glad we are beginning to work constructively with HRC, and that they are willing to support all the populations who may have been the possible targets of this vicious bombing. Kris has been very helpful; we're looking forward to working with her on a more inclusive Hate Crimes bill." Responded Pratt, "Violence affects all kinds of people across this community - gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender. We want to see everyone protected from the effects of hatred, and educating Congress and the Administration on hate crimes is the right place to start." [Press release ends] ### [Letter text begins] February 28, 1997 Via Facsimile The Honorable Janet Reno, Esq. Attorney General of the United States U.S. Department of Justice 10th Street & Constitution Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20350 Attorney General Reno: No doubt you are aware of the bombing that occurred last Friday at The Otherside, a bar in Atlanta, Georgia. Some press and other accounts -- including a letter recently sent to you by a number of concerned civil rights organizations -- describe the bar as a "gay" or "lesbian and gay" bar. According to local activists in Atlanta, however, The Otherside actually was popular not only with gays and lesbians, but also with bisexuals, transgendered people (and heterosexual women). In order to counter the somewhat common misperception that bisexual and transgendered people are really just gays or lesbians, we concluded that it was important that we bring to your attention the actual breadth of diversity that existed among The Otherside's patrons. We note this point because it underscores the apparent invisibility of hate crimes against bisexuals and transgendered persons. The Need for Greater HCSA Compliance. The invisibility of bisexuals and transgendered people in accounts and reporting of bias crimes ostensibly based on animosity toward "homosexuals" is a problem we would like to bring to your attention. For example, the incidence of reported hate crimes against bisexuals is rising. In a 1995 survey publicized by San Francisco's Community United Against Violence, 146 bisexual people reported hate incidents -- more than double the number reported in 1994 in the same 11 cities monitored. Although violence against bisexuals remains vastly underreported, we suspect these numbers will continue to rise. We believe that if efforts were made (i) to increase voluntary compliance with the Hate Crimes Statistics Act ("HCSA"), and (ii) to make reporting agencies more aware of the diversity that exists in the communities at risk, we might be able to gain a clearer picture of the actual incidence of bias crimes against bisexuals and other groups. We would like to see the Department of Justice devote additional resources to training and compliance advocacy in this area. Hate Crimes Against the Transgendered. Transgendered people are not even identified specifically in HCSA statistics, despite the fact that bias crimes against transgendered people are frequent and tend to be among the most brutal. The Gender Public Advocacy Coalition ("GenderPAC") has collected anecdotal information concerning nearly a dozen apparently bias-motivated murders of transgendered persons since 1990, and believes that the actual number of hate crimes against this group is much larger. Christian Paige's March 1996 murder in Chicago, Illinois is illustrative: Christian, a young pre-operative transsexual, was bludgeoned about the head, strangled, and stabbed many times in the chest; the body then was burned. Local police reportedly did not consider the murder a bias crime, although the ferocity of the attack suggests otherwise. We would welcome the opportunity to discuss with you, and appropriate members of your staff, the bias crime problems encountered by gays and lesbians, as well as bisexual and transgendered people. We would like to help the Department understand the hate crimes risks that these groups face together, as well as the hate crimes risks to which each is particularly susceptible. Accordingly, we ask to be included in any meeting with representatives of the civil rights community arising from or related to the Atlanta bombing. Dana Priesing, GenderPAC's local representative, will contact your office to inquire further about this matter. If you or your staff have any questions in the meantime, Ms. Priesing can be reached at 202-347-3024. Sincerely, Gender Public Advocacy Coalition BiNet USA Human Rights Campaign National Coalition of Bi and Trans Activists National Gay and Lesbian Task Force [Letter text ends.] ### (c) 1997 InYourFace An on-line, news-only service for gender activism. 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