FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 25, 2004

Transgender and Disability Inclusion Under CT Hate Crimes Law

GLAD Hails Transgender and Disability Inclusion Under Connecticut Hate Crimes Law

Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders, a New England-wide legal organization, today hailed the passage of a law in Connecticut that amends the State’s existing hate crimes statute to cover people who are targeted for violence because they are transgender or disabled. The measure, House Bill 5657, was signed into law by Governor John Rowland on May 21.

“Transgender people and people with disabilities have long been the target of violence and hate crimes,” stated GLAD attorney Jennifer Levi, a nationally recognized expert on transgender legal issues. Levi added, “Violence based on these personal characteristics is not only a heinous crime against an individual, but it also creates an environment of fear and intimidation for the entire transgender community. This law sends an unequivocal message to police, prosecutors, courts and the general public, that targeting individuals for violence solely because they are transgender or disabled is intolerable.”

The new Connecticut legislation covers transsexual people and is also broad enough to protect any person who is assaulted simply because he or she does not conform to gender stereotypes or social expectations of the way a man or woman is supposed to behave, whether or not they identify as transgender.

GLAD worked with the Connecticut Hate Crimes Network towards passage of the bill. The Coalition included the Connecticut Women’s Education and Legal Fund, the Connecticut Civil Liberties Union, the Anti-defamation League, Connecticut TransAdvocacy Coalition, ADA Coalition for Connecticut and Project 100, Inc. GLAD attorney Jennifer Levi authored the original bill that led to the legislation signed by Governor Rowland last week.

Connecticut joins California, Missouri, Minnesota, Vermont, Pennsylvania, New Mexico, and Hawaii, as states including transgender persons within hate crimes law.

In addition to the legislation signed last week, Connecticut’s hate crimes statute covers violence based on actual or perceived race, religion, ethnicity, or sexual orientation. The law provides for increased criminal penalties when a person causes physical injury or property damage because the victim is a member of a class protected by the statute.