Comments on: D.C. task force to release anti-bullying recommendations

By: Safety For School Blog D.C. task force to release anti-bullying recommendations | Safety For School Blog

Fri, 01 Feb 2013 16:35:23 +0000

[...] (author unknown) Members of D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray's anti-bullying task force on Thursday will release [...]

By: Robben Wainer

Robben Wainer — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 16:14:59 +0000

I feel Gay Youth have so many strikes against them in forming a sexual identity. I hope that the influence of Bullies does not altar their views of one another. There is no reason to keep closeted or punish our Gay Youth who need help in achieving their goals.

By: Robben Wainer

Robben Wainer — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 16:12:01 +0000

Gay Youth have so many strikes against them in forming a sexual identity. I feel it is our role not to exclude them from achieving their goals. Hate crimes are not distinguishable by age. I feel many Gay Youth have to submit to being different by those who are attempting to do them harm. There is nothing worse than subjecting our youth to punishment that serves only to inhibit and intimidate them.

By: Bad night on the Green Line

Bad night on the Green Line — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 14:15:28 +0000

[...] Anti-bullying task force will issue its report today (Blade) [...]

By: brian

brian — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 11:18:31 +0000

This is a very good thing, Mayor Gray.

But it is so not enough– especially when LGBT residents of, and LGBT visitors to DC risk violent attack for just walking around DC as open and proud LGBT people.

Incredibly violent anti-LGBT hate crimes have continued to go up in DC during the years– both while you were Council Chair, and now, during your time as mayor.

As soon as you were elected, you spectacularly broke your campaign promise to the LGBT community by failing to consult LGBT public safety activists in your choice for police chief. And you hastily re-appointed the chief who tried to destroy MPD’s Gay and Lesbian Liaison Unit as soon as she came to office in 2007.

Your chief of police has done nothing to stop anti-LGBT hate crimes in DC for six long years. And now Human Rights Watch accuses Chief Lanier’s MPD of having a culture of ignoring, belittling and discouraging sexual assault victims from reporting…
*****
The report released by Human Rights Watch Thursday said the group couldn’t find incident reports on 170 cases from 2008 to September 2011.”

“Dozens of people who work with victims and from victims and from medical staff and from different community organizations said they are concerned that cases weren’t being taken seriously and that victims were being treated insensitively and were belittled and discouraged from reporting and not believed when they went to the police for help,” said Sara Dareshori, of Human Rights Watch.

(NBC Washington, By Jim Handly, Jan 24, 2013 )
*****
Do you suppose that might sound familiar to victims of violent anti-LGBT hate crimes, as well? How many LGBT hate crimes while you were mayor and chairman of the Council, Mr. Gray, have been close with an arrest? Where was your personal oversight and concern?

What have you REALLY done to stop anti-LGBT hate crimes in DC?

Earlier this month, you joined your chief of police in another dishonest PR photo-op taking outrageous personal credit for a 50-year drop in homicides in DC. But the truth is that same said 50-year drop in homicides has occurred all across our nation– and that’s been widely reported in the press (including in WaPo, this month).

Just how stupid do you think DC voters– both LGBT and straight, really are, Mr. Gray?