Video About Hate Crime Legislation

[Guest April63]

I found a video on YouTube about hate crime laws. The video is 10 minutes and I thought it was kinda hard to follow (it jumps around a lot), but anyway it opposes hate crime laws. The link is here:

The caption on the side sums it up pretty well: "Hate crime legislation only puts people in prison for longer, does not address systemic oppression, and does nothing to stop violence again trans people. We need to focus on changing our society so that violence doesn't happen in the first place."

So what do you think? I think that's a pretty good point, because putting people in jail obviously doesn't stop crimes from occurring. Prisons have been around since forever and we still have crimes being committed everyday.

[Sally]

That is a very good point April,

Violence and prisons have been around forever and one does not seem to cure the other so societal change is required and Hate Crime Laws serve as a wake up call to the people who would never think of hurting another human being but by their own inaction are allowing it to happen.

It is now up to everyone to not let this go unnoticed we have been given an opportunity to bring our case to the foreground.

Something to think about.

Love ya,

Sally

[Guest Amanda joan]

April,

I agree with Sally. (this happens allot)

We need to willing to come out of the shadows and speak to everyone we know about the great danger we are in because of ignorace & hatred. I have started this and I have been very impressed with the level of interest people have in what I have to say. They are sometimes suprised to hear about the violence. I have been able to use the news events that have highlighted a trans-person death-murder. They are amazed to find out that often these murders are not reported for what they are. I have been working my way around my congregation and talking with whoever is willing to listen. Many have been very suprised to her me say that I am Transgender, some have even asked what it was to be Transgender. The more I talk, the more I realize that I am not the only person that my friends know that have a gender identy issue. We have a responsiblity to put a face to this issue so that we don't ever have to listen to someone we know speak out in ignorace against us.

I agree that locking up people does not fix this issue it does keep those that are cought of the streets for a while and that's about it. We can not wait for some Politician to make a speach that a few thousand people will listen to or for some law to be pasted. We need to make it all of our duties to change peoples impressions of who Trans People are.

Peace & Love Amanda

You can make a difference.

[Guest nova]

International Day of Remembrance is just a little more than a week away. Many of those being remembered never had their murders investigated and many of the perpetrators who were identified got off with a slap on the wrist. I disagree with those who doubt there is a deterrent effect because, just recently I witnessed a pair of thugs -who loiter in the neighborhood- say, "you better not "fuss" with them (transsexuals) 'cause they got rights and you'll be doing time." What is ultimately at stake is the public's safety. One purpose of incarceration is incapacitation--making it physically impossible for a person convicted of a crime to commit further crimes against the public while serving a sentence. More than 100,000 hate crime offenses have been reported to the FBI since 1991. Of course most offenses do not rise to the level of mandatory prison sentences, but people who are willing to brutally assault, batter and murder others because they are members of a race, religion, gender identity, sexual persuasion, etc., that they personally dislike need to be held accountable--not excused. Of course hate crime legislation is not going put a stop to hate crime now or forever, and no realistic person believes that it would. Until this utopia of tolerance and understanding is achieved, there will be serious and appropriate consequences for hate based violence and murder, even when committed against one of us.

--Nova