Date: Wed, 2 Aug 1995 19:38:17 -0500 (CDT) From: Kevyn Jacobs To: "Kansas Queer News [KQN]" Cc: GLB-NEWS Subject: (USA, KANSAS, WICHITA) WGLA Committee works on Hate Crimes Education FROM THE NEWS-TELEGRAPH JULY 28 - AUGUST 10, 1995 ========================= COMMITTEE WORKS ON HATE CRIMES EDUCATION WICHITA KS-A Gay and Lesbian committee is working to educate the larger population about violence directed at Lesbians and Gays, specifically domestic violence. In general, domestic violence is one of the most difficult crimes for law enforcement agencies to deal with. Often, the crimes go unreported. And when they are reported, they often are dropped without charges pressed, according to Federal Bureau of Invest igation crime statistics. Preventing, tracking and prosecuting domestic violence in the Lesbian and Gay community is even more difficult since many law enforcement officers are not trained to deal with the problem and the reporting rate is even lower than in the general population. The Wichita Gay and Lesbian Association's Law Enforcement Committee is organizing to work with the city's Domestic Violence Coalition and other organizations and agencies to help track, prosecute and prevent domestic violence in the Lesbian and Gay commun ity. The committee also is working on addressing other issues of violence in the community, specifically hate-crimes. A statement released by the committee said, "We intend to train volunteers from our community to be advocates and crisis counselors for battered Gay and Lesbian people. And we will train professionals at the crisis lines, in the shelters and in law enforc ement to understand our issues and needs...Crimes against Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and transgendered people are real and deadly." Committee members said the Wichita police department has indicated a willingness to work with the committee to train officers on Lesbian and Gay issues and also is interested in surveying the community to determine opinions of the department. The committee presently is circulating a survey about hate crimes, domestic violence and police relations in Wichita. The committee's statement says, "This survey is a starting point, but we need you to continue the work." People interested in becoming involved in the committee's work are encouraged to call 316/ 651-0251 or write to WGLA Law Enforcement Committee, PO Box 2845, Wichita, Kansas 67201. ========================================================== Permission granted by the News-Telegraph for distribution to the KQN email list (KQN@casti.com), and archiving in the Queer Resources Directory (QRD) on the Internet (http://www.qrd.org/qrd). For News-Telegraph subscription information (published twice a month), please call 1.816.561.6266, or email: newstele@aol.com ==========================================================