Date: Wed, 15 Sep 99 17:54:40 -0500 From: National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Subject: [NGLTF PRESS] Lobel Addresses Criminal Justice Conference ********************************************* NATIONAL GAY AND LESBIAN TASK FORCE PRESS RELEASE Contact: David Elliot, Communications Director 202-332-6483 ext. 3303 800-757-6476 pager delliot@ngltf.org http://www.ngltf.org 1700 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC ********************************************* NGLTF's KERRY LOBEL ADDRESSES GAY AND LESBIAN CRIMINAL JUSTICE CONFERENCE "You have tremendous power to change lives," she tells delegates Sept. 15, 1999 - Gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender criminal justice professionals have the power to be agents of social change and can serve as an important bridge between GLBT communities and law enforcement agencies that often have failed GLBT people, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Executive Director Kerry Lobel said today. Lobel presented a speech to the Sixth Annual International Conference of Gay and Lesbian Criminal Justice Professionals in San Diego. The conference is sponsored by the Golden State Peace Officers Association. "Gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender criminal justice professionals serve as the bridge between members of our community that need assistance and the institutions that have often failed us," Lobel said. "It is only by working together as one community that we can focus our full attention on remedying the effects of the institutionalized racism, sexism and homophobia that serve as barriers to our full participation in society." Lobel outlined four areas where GLBT criminal justice professionals can act as agents of social change: hate crimes, same-sex battering, GLBT youth and visibility of GLBT criminal justice professionals. She said conference delegates should make sure their agencies are prosecuting hate crimes, should train new recruits and long-term officers about hate crimes, and, through their professional associations, should lobby for strong hate crimes laws. Lobel commended the criminal justice community for recognizing the seriousness of same-sex battering, and urged it to continue to lead the way. "As criminal justice personnel, you can play agents of social change," she said. "You can train your local community center staff on the ravages of same-sex battering, warning signs and help available." Although some states are taking steps to protect GLBT youth in schools, Lobel said criminal justice professionals need to do more to prevent the increasing criminalization of young people, particularly homeless GLBT young people. "To what extent will criminal justice professionals recognize the unique difficulties of homeless gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender young people?" Lobel asked. "As agents for social change, you can intervene in both training colleagues about the special needs of young people, and creating bridges between law enforcement and GLBT youth programs." Lobel concluded her remarks by calling upon delegates to work toward changing their communities. "You are agents of change," she said. "You can maintain the status quo, you can change the conditions that affect you and other GLBT communities. We live in a time when you as individuals and you in the jobs you hold have tremendous power to change lives. I urge you to use it." _____________________________________________________________________ Founded in 1973, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force works to eliminate prejudice, violence and injustice against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people at the local, state and national level. As part of a broader social justice movement for freedom, justice and equality, NGLTF is creating a world that respects and celebrates the diversity of human expression and identity where all people may fully participate in society. _________________________________________________________________ The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force presents the Creating Change conference - the nation's premier conference for activists and organizers in the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender movement. November 10-14 * Oakland, CA * http://www.creatingchange.org _________________________________________ This message was issued by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Communications Department. If you have a question regarding this post, please direct it to the contact at the top of this message. To reach the NGLTF Communications Department at NGLTF, please call David Elliot, Communications Director, at 202-332-6483 x3303 or pager 800-757-6476. If you wish to UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, please send an email with "UNSUBSCRIBE PRESSLIST" in the subject and body of your email message to . You may also unsubscribe by visiting http://www.ngltf.org.