NGLTF report illuminates anti-gay violence in the U.S. April1994 ▼ PAGEIIQ-Notes WASfflNGTON, D.C.—Statistics re leased in a report by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF) illuminate the dramatic prevalence of hate-violence perpe trated against gay men, lesbians, and bisex uals in the United States. The 9th atmual NGLTF survey docu ments 1,813 anti-gay incidents in six U.S. cities in 1993, including harassment, threats, physical assault, van^ism, arson, police abuse, kidnapping, extortion, and murder. This total, while troubling, represents a wel come 14% decrease in anti-gay incidents over the all-time high of 2,103 incidents reported in Boston, Chicago, Denver, Min neapolis/St. Paul, New York City, and San Francisco during 1992. This figure repre sents the first aimual decline in reported anti gay incidents after five years of a steady and dramatic rise. While the number of overall incidents fell, the individual incidents in 1993 comprised a higher number of offenses per incident. Nationwide, the severity of anti-gay incidents rose by 22%, from 1.6 offenses per incident in 1992 to 1.9. “While any decline is welcome, it is too early to draw conclusions on whether 1993 numbers indicate a downward trend,” said Martin Hiraga, Director of NGLTF’s Anti- Violence Project and author of the report. “Anti-gay violence is still an epidemic out of control in this country.” In Boston, Chicago, Minneapolis/St. Paul, New York City, and San Francisco, the five cities recording anti-gay violence since 1988, anti-gay incidents increased 127% over the six year period, from 697 incidents in 1988 to 1,584. The highest number of anti-gay episodes were recorded in New York City (587), followed by San Francisco (366), Minneap olis/St Paid (240), Denver (229), Chicago (204), and Boston (187). Because of under reporting by victims, it is estimated that these figures reflect only a fraction of the actual number of incidents that occurred in the six urban areas last year. Evidence in this report shows that in one community a signif icant percentage of victims did not report their incidents because they fear public dis closure of their sexual orientation. Anti-gay arson was the most serious form of offense to increase this year. Arson rose 200% from 2 incidents in 1992 to 6 in 1993. Vandalism also rose 10%from 141 incidents in 1992 to 155 in 1993. Bomb threats in creased 8% from 13 incidents in 1992 to 14 in 1993. Harassment—^personalized, con frontational incidents in which lesbians, gay men, and bisexuals are intimidated face-to- face, on the phone or by mail—rose 35% from 1230 incidents in 1992 to 1665 in 1993. Reports of threats and menacing dropped 9% from 667 incidents to 605. Physical assaults, or gay-bashing, fell 16% in the six cities from 848 incidents in 1992 to 710 in 1993. Robberies declined 28% from 85 to 61. Reports of police abuse dipped 3 6% from 248 to 161. Anti-gay murders fell 50% from 14to7. Murders in which the victim’ssexual orientation was one of several factors de clined 25% from 24 to 18. Only 322 anti-gay crimes were reported to local police in six cities. Police reports declined 14% in 1993 from 375 in 1992. The decline in anti-gay episodes could reflect a variety of factors, according to Hiraga. These include increased outreach by lesbian, gay and bisexual crime prevention education programs, greater vigilance against anti-gay violence by local law enforcement officials, and enhanced penalties in local hate crime statutes. However, these figures also indicate that homophobic violence re mained an on-going and prevalent problem in the six urban areas during the past year. Intolerance fomented by Far Right opera tives may have contributed to anti-gay vio lence in many commimities. For example, Denver victim advocates documented a 12% surge in homophobic incidents during 1993 in the wake of the passage of Amendment 2, an anti-gay ballot initiative in Colorado. In 1992, Denver advocates received 41 % of the year’s reports in November and December, Continued on page 34 /Hiss ^eidik6.^n plates April 22 Scandals Night Club Asheville, N.C. (704) 252-2838 Starring Miss Gay USA 1993 This is the last Preliminary before the 1994 Miss Gay USA Pageant! usn Official USA Preliminary 1ST I X I i_ A rsj D QCDLDaCD SPONSORED BY THE SOUTHEAST GAY RODEO & SCHEDULE OF EVENTS Thursday. April 28 Royalty pagent Mr./Ms/Miss SEGRA Friday. April 29 Rodeo registration 6-10 PM "Welcome to Georgia" Dancing & Entertainment 8- 2 AM Saturday. April 30 Rodeo Performance 12 Noon - 6 PM "A Niglit on Peachtree" Dancing & Entertainment 8- 2 AM Sunday. May 1 Rodeo Perfomiance 12 Noon - 6 PM Awards Ceremony The Last Dance 8 PM - ? Dances S7.00 / advance Rodeo perfomiance 113.00 / ad\’ance Weekend Package *35.00 Awards Ceremony (Sun) no charge TRAVEL & HOTEL ARRANGEMENTS ADVANCE • DAMRON VACATIONS 1 • 800 • 695 • 0880 TICKETS & INFORMATION P.O. BOX 7881 ATLANTA • 30357-0881 404 • 760 • 8126