Hate Crimes Against LGBT’s Up
November 23, 2009 by James Hipps
According to reports released earlier today by the FBI, the rise in hate crimes involving members of the LGBT community and religious groups has increased sharply since last year.
The data released indicates that hate crimes based on sexual orientation are up almost 11 %, while religion-based crimes were up nearly 9 percent (mostly towards those of the Jewish faith). While these statistics are up, there was a slight decrease in the amount of racially motivated hate crimes, as they decreased almost 1 %.
The study also reveals that approximately one third of all hate crimes involve vandalism or property damage. It also concludes that 30 % involved intimidation and 30 % involved physical attacks, including murder.
The release of the FBI statistics comes less than one month after President Obama signed a bill into law that expanded hate crimes to include crimes based on gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability.
However, many Republicans and conservative Christians feel the hate crimes legislation was unnecessary and targeted at silencing the ‘religious right’.
Not surprising. Good thing we have got the Hate Crimes Act passed.
Hate crimes in Indiana increased from 40 incidents in 2007 to 61 last year. What is even more disturbing, if that is possible is that the Roman Catholic Church has made ending Hate Crimes protection for gays one of their priorities, as seen in the ‘Manhattan Declaration.” I can love the Roman Catholic Church but we must also work against its wickedness, and waging war with love and justice is wicked.