Subject: (USA, KANSAS, WICHITA) WGLA Committee works on Hate Crimes Education
From: Kevyn Jacobs <[email-masked]>
To: "Kansas Queer News [KQN]" <[email-masked]>
Cc: GLB-NEWS <[email-masked]>
Date: Wed, 2 Aug 1995 19:38:17 -0500 (CDT)

FROM THE NEWS-TELEGRAPH
JULY 28 - AUGUST 10, 1995
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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.

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