Source: Detroit Free Press, WZZM-TV, Detroit News
DETROIT -- Michigan led the nation in 2007 with a 133 percent increase in reported anti-gay hate crimes over the previous year, according to statistics released Tuesday.
The National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs report examined data from 2,430 gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender people across the country who reported being victims of hate crimes. Nationally, there was a 24 percent increase in reported anti-gay hate crimes.
The figures for Michigan were compiled from reports to the Triangle Foundation.
There were 226 reported incidents during 2007 involving violence or violent threats against gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered people, according to the report, which was released by Triangle in conjunction with the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs. By comparison, the foundation said, there were 97 reported incidents in 2006.
The spike in hate crimes against gay people in Michigan is more than a series of assaults on individuals, advocates say.
It's an attack on an entire group.
"What's important is not numbers, because one is enough," said Derek Smiertka, director of Michigan Equality, a group working to eliminate discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.
"When you attack somebody for who they are and what they are and what they are perceived to be, you are attacking an entire community, not just an individual."
Among the 226 reports last year were two homicides, 21 cases of vandalism, 46 assaults and 101 incidents of intimidation or harassment, the report said. In addition to the violent incidents, the foundation reported 72 cases of discrimination based on sexual orientation.
The numbers are based on victims' reports to the Triangle Foundation, said Melissa Pope, the organization's director of victim services.
Pope said part of the increase can be attributed to campaigns against domestic partner benefits, as well as a 2007 Michigan Court of Appeals decision denying those benefits to same-sex couples and their families.
"When you tell the entire state that it's OK to deny something as basic as health care, it sends a pretty specific message and it institutionalizes discrimination," Pope said.
She also said the economy may be a factor. "People tend to commit more crimes when they're struggling."
Increased outreach by the Triangle Foundation could also have led to more people coming forward to report incidents, Pope said.
Tougher state and federal laws need to be in place, increasing the penalties for hate crimes, Smiertka said.
State Sen. Hansen Clarke, D-Detroit, has proposed legislation that would include hate crimes based on sexual orientation and gender identity under Michigan's Ethnic Intimidation Act.
One of Clarke's constituents was beaten to death last year in an anti-gay attack.
"This is the next major threshold we've got to cross in truly giving everyone civil rights protections in this state," he said.
"There can be no excuse for crimes of hate directed against any group or individual because of who they are or what they believe in," said Dan Levy, chief legal officer for the Michigan Department of Civil Rights. "We are determined not to sit idly by while these hate crimes continue to accumulate."
Not all incidents of hate crimes reported to the Triangle Foundation are reported to police, Pope said.
"We encourage the victim to report (the crimes) to police, and we'll even go to the police station with them," she said. "But we think it's disempowering to make that decision for them. Many people, for whatever reason, do not want to report hate crimes to police."
Full article: Gay-rights group says hate crimes soared in '07 | Freep.com | Detroit Free Press
Study: Anti-gay hate crimes double | Lansing State Journal via WZZM13 News
Michigan anti-gay crimes rise | Detroit News