There’s More to Hate Crime Stats Than Meets the Eye

Staff / Truthdig Nov 25, 2009 Upon first glance, the FBI's news that hate crimes based on sexual orientation were up 11 percent in 2008 from the previous year suggests a giant uptick in violence against America's LGBTQ population However, as Andrew Sullivan and Mark Thompson remind us (continued). Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

War Is a Hate Crime

Chris Hedges / Truthdig Oct 26, 2009 The first major federal civil rights law protecting lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, passed last week, was attached to a measure funding ongoing military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.Violence against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people is wrong. So is violence against people in Afghanistan and Iraq. Dig deeper ( 5 Min. Read )

Senate Votes in Favor of Expanded Hate-Crime Measure

Staff / Truthdig Oct 23, 2009 President Barack Obama represents the final stop for a measure, passed by the Senate on Thursday, that would expand the definition of hate crimes to include "those committed because of a victim’s gender or gender identity, sexual orientation or disability," as The New York Times put it. Obama is expected to approve the legislation. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Redefining Hate

Staff / Truthdig Oct 9, 2009 The House has voted to strengthen the definition of hate crimes to include those carried out on the basis of a person's sexual orientation, marking a step toward protecting gay, lesbian and transgender people under the federal statute. The bill still needs to go through the Senate and be signed by President Obama. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Three Dead, Eight Wounded in Shooting at Tel Aviv Gay Center

Staff / Truthdig Aug 2, 2009 A black-clad gunman opened fire Saturday in what was described in earlier accounts as a gay and lesbian nightclub in Tel Aviv but which the BBC reported is "the headquarters of the local lesbian and gay rights association," killing three people and wounding eight others before fleeing. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

House Passes Matthew Shepard Act

Staff / Truthdig Apr 30, 2009 The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act, also known as the Matthew Shepard Act, on Wednesday. Similar but weaker legislation had failed two years ago in the face of opposition from President Bush. Before Wednesday's vote, Republican Rep. Virginia Foxx created a stir by taking issue with the bill's name, claiming Shepard's murder in 1998 didn't constitute a hate crime. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Suspect in Unitarian Church Killings Hated Liberals

Staff / Truthdig Jul 29, 2008 Jim David Adkisson, the suspect in Sunday's deadly shooting in a Unitarian Universalist church in Knoxville, Tenn., left a note expressing his hatred for "what he perceived to be the liberals in our country," according to Knoxville Police Chief Sterling Owen, who said the incident was being treated as a hate crime. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Russians Get a Lead in Beheading Case

Staff / Truthdig Aug 17, 2007 Russian authorities have arrested a student for allegedly posting a video of the apparent execution of two men by a neo-Nazi group, although authorities still don't know who recorded the video or carried out the attack. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Russia Investigates ‘Nazi’ Beheading Video

Staff / Truthdig Aug 15, 2007 Russian authorities are investigating a gruesome online video which shows the apparent execution of two men by a group calling itself "National Socialists of Rus." According to the BBC, Russia has experienced a rise in ethnic violence over the last few years. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Colbert Has a Gay Old Time at Dobson’s Expense

Staff / Truthdig May 9, 2007 Stephen Colbert (above) mocks "Focus on the Family" host James Dobson for suggesting that the hate crimes legislation passed by the House discriminates against Christians because it would punish gay-bashing. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Bush: Hate Crime Bill ‘Unnecessary’

Staff / Truthdig May 5, 2007 The House has passed an expansion of hate crimes legislation to include discrimination against gender, sexual orientation and disability. Though the measure succeeded with bipartisan support and is expected to make it through the Senate, President Bush has vowed to veto the bill, calling it unnecessary. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )