They report an alarming increase in hate crimes against LGBTQ+ people

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Hate crimes against people from the LGBTQ+ community have increased steadily and alarmingly; Data reported to the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) show that between 2022 and 2023 there were 405 events of this nature, motivated by sexual orientation prejudice, an increase of 3.6 percent compared to the previous year.

In turn, reported hate crimes against LGBTQ+ communities continue to increase at alarming rates despite the fact that, according to California Attorney General Rob Bonta, reported hate crimes overall decreased 7.1 percent in 2023 compared to 2022 , experts agreed during an information session held by Ethnic Media Services.

A recent Los Angeles Times survey of LGBTQ+ communities shows that while most Americans accept same-sex marriage, same-sex couples raising children, and laws protecting people from employment discrimination, their Approval declines with transgender and non-binary people of all ages.

Becky Monroe, deputy director of strategic initiatives and foreign affairs at the California Department of Civil Rights, explained that in recent years hate crimes surrounding sexual orientation have increased even though it seems to be more accepted by society. 

Between 2021 and 2022, he said, hate crimes against transgender people have increased by 29 percent, a very high figure that worries specialists, since it is evident that there is a continuous increase that leads to a crisis and makes it necessary to take action. actions to counteract it.

Furthermore, he explained that many people feel uncomfortable approaching police departments, but when they arrive at the organizations they are embraced and understood, which is why "it is important to work hand in hand with each other."

"People need different types of help and our job is to bring them closer to the areas that provide them with the support they need," added Monroe.

Toni Newman, director of The Coalition for Justice and Equality Across Movements, highlighted that Black women disproportionately suffer many more hate attacks than Caucasian women; while the second sector of the population is Latinas, adding that, since 2013, 85 percent of murdered transgender people are women of color.

And, she highlighted, many transgender women of color are suffering from violence, discrimination, and acts of hate in their areas of employment, which is why it becomes so important to provide them with the opportunity to have a job, thus reducing the chances of suffering a act of hate or even facing situations of discrimination or death.

"Culture is important, educating employees, supervisors, managers and more, because each person has the duty to show how to treat others who live a transgender experience," mentioned the also graduate and doctoral candidate in Law.

To this, he added one more point to consider, labor equality, both in salaries and opportunities, as well as medical or insurance benefits, since in many cases they are paid less or offered fewer benefits for being transgender people.

?We transgender people are Americans, we are not demanding special treatment, all we ask for is fair treatment. I treat my transgender employees in the same way, we only ask for the same opportunities with fair salaries and jobs with the same benefits as everyone?, he pointed out. 

Andy Ruíz, from the transgender health clinic at St. John's Community Health in Los Angeles, explained that through his work he has noticed the increase in hate crimes with undocumented transgender people, who are currently the most affected.

For Ruíz, it is important to work on these issues from within the family, because many times the first comments or acts of hatred and discrimination belong to family members who are not capable of accepting and treating their own members with respect. 

?The family supports you, the family loves you, but in many cases that I have worked on this does not happen, many times they are victims of their own family; So, I talk to the family members and I propose to do restorative justice?, commented the academic and legal defender.

Ruíz considers that it is important to have legal support in any circumstance, whether due to discrimination at work, with the family or in their environment, since knowing their rights allows them to be themselves.

Aries Yumul is the Resource District LGBTQ+ Coordinator at the Santa Clara County Office of Education, was a former math teacher and supported her students in feeling safe and proud of their identity.

Yumul commented that he had the joy of having a free space in high school that a teacher gave him, now he works to be able to provide that same safe space to other young people, an essential act to counteract hatred, seeking to replicate it in other centers educational.

"We are the people who share with our students, we are the social and emotional counselors, we are doing what we can because we care about our students, our schools are a point of help for young people today and always," Yumul concluded.

This resource is supported in whole or in part by funding provided by the State of California, administered by the California State Library in partnership with the California Department of Social Services and the California Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs as part of the Stop the Hate program To report a hate incident or hate crime and get support, go to AC vs Hate.

You may be interested in: Learn what to do in the event of an act of hate in San Mateo County