Lesbians Respond to Hate Crime Survey

A survey by the Orange County Human Relations Commission shows that lesbians are victimized because of their sexual orientation, but they overwhelmingly fail to report the incidents to police.

Of the 101 women who participated in the survey, held at Gay & Lesbian Pride Festival at UC Irvine last month, 38 responded they had been targets of hate crimes, dating back to the late 1970s. Yet only 12 women said they had reported the incidents to police.

The incidents cited included rapes, police harassment, physical assaults, discrimination, threatening phone calls and muggings.

“It’s sickening to see how many people have been victimized,” said Rusty Kennedy, executive director of the commission.

The women cited fears of retaliation and insensitivity from authorities among reasons for not reporting the incidents.

Commissioners said they will work to encourage lesbians to report hate crimes.

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Hate Crime Question

The number of reported hate crimes targeting gays and lesbians has diminished, but the Human Relations Commission believes lesbians are not reporting:

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Year Gays Lesbians Total 1992 24 1 25 1993 34 1 35 1994 19 3 22 1995 9 3 12 1996 15 0 15

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DIDN’T REPORT? WHY NOT?

Top reasons hate crimes are not reported by lesbians:

1. Didn’t know who/where to report crime

2. Not sure of rights

3. Fear of coming out

4. Agency insensitivity

5. Fear of retaliation

Source: Orange County Human Relations Commission