Even though there is increased acceptance of gay, lesbian, transgender and bisexual people, gay & lesbian hate crimes continue to rise. Learn how to protect yourself against hate crimes or get help if you've been a victim.
The Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, signed by Pres. Barack Obama expands federal hate crimes legislation to include gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and disability.
Why should you be concerned about expanding hate crime legislation for gays?
Have you been the victim of a crime based on your sexual orientation? Anti-gay hate crimes are heinous acts. There is help for you. Here are steps to take if you've been the victim of a hate crime.
The Matthew Shepard Act (also known as the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act) is a bill that would include sexual orientation and gender expression in existing federal hate crime legislation.
Hate crimes are often more severe than other crimes. Read about how the Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act and Matthew Shepard Act will help deter violence and better prosecute offenders.
Hate crimes based against gay, lesbian and transgender people have increased despite legislation to combat the heinous crimes. Get gay bias-based crime statistics and see which states do and don't include sexual orientation in their hate crime legislation.
The hate crime against openly gay Charles Howard shocked the country and furthered the need for hate crime legislation that includes sexual orientation. Read his story and learn how you can prevent anti-gay hate crimes.
Hate crimes against gay men (or gay bashing) can't always be avoided, but there are key precautions you can take to minimize the chances of being a victim. Following these simple steps can make the difference between being safe or becoming a statistic.
5 Years after the tragic murder of 21-year-old Matthew Shepard, the foundation in his name continues to raise awareness of hate crimes against gays.
The National Center for Hate Crime Prevention (NCHCP) works in partnership with professionals from various disciplines to address the root causes of hate crime.
GLSEN is an education organization creating safe schools for all lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.
The Safe Schools Coalition offers resources as a starting point for educators, parents/guardians and youth.
