Date: Tue, 31 Jan 1995 11:48:46 -0500 Reply-To: AHRF@AOL.COM [ Send all responses to AHRF@aol.com only. Any responses to the list or list-owners will be returned to you. ] MEDIA RELEASE Embargoed For Release: January 30, 1995 Mark Colledge (602) 530-1660 (voice mail) LESBIAN/GAY COMMUNITY RELEASES 1994 HATE CRIMES REPORT Calls for inclusion in proposed hate crimes legislation (Phoenix) The Arizona Human Rights Fund (AHRF), an organization dedicated to securing equal rights for all people regardless of sexual orientation, has released in first ever analysis of hate crimes committed against lesbians and gays in Arizona. The report, entitled, "Lesbian/Gay Related Bias Crimes in Metro Phoenix, 1994 - First Annual Analysis and Report", is also the first report issued by any non-governmental agency on hate crimes in Arizona. Some of the report highlights included: o A significant portion (39%) of bias related crimes against gays and lesbians were of an extremely violent nature (i.e. assault, aggravated assault, arson, and in some cases homicide) o There were five lesbian/gay bias related homicides in 1994. o 58% of lesbian/gay related bias crimes were committed in public places. o Gays and lesbians were the #1 target of bias related crimes in Tempe in 1994 according to the Tempe Police Department o Gays and lesbians were the #2 target of bias related crimes in Phoenix in 1994 according to the Phoenix Police Department. o Crimes against gays and lesbians in Tempe increased 300% from 1993 to 1994 according to the Tempe Police Department. o Crimes against gays and lesbians in Phoenix increased 88% from 1993 to 1994 (compared to a 7% increase for all hate crimes) according to the Phoenix Police Department. Included in the report are five Arizona gay/lesbian-related homicides, three of which are currently unsolved. Only two in five (40%) of Arizona gay/lesbian-related homicides have been solved, compared to 65% nationally for all homicides. "The murders of five gay men in Arizona in 1994 point to the fact the gays and lesbians in Arizona are being murdered and brutally attacked simply because of who they are," said Mark Colledge of AHRF, "These crimes are not simply against individual gays and lesbians, but are an attack upon the entire community." "Currently in the Arizona Legislature there is a bill, HB 2368, that will increase penalties for bias related crimes, unfortunately 'sexual orientation' is not currently covered in the bill." said Bill MacDonald, chair of AHRF, "This is a glaring omission, that should be corrected. There is no rational reason to exclude sexual orientation from the legislation." "My son, Michael Despain was murdered on June 9, 1994 because he was gay. At the time of Michael's death I could find solace in my vow to make a difference in this world - that no one else should have to suffer as he did because he was in some way "different," said Karen Despain If you would like a copy of "Lesbian/Gay Related Bias Crimes in Metro Phoenix, 1994 - First Annual Analysis and Report" please e-mail us. Please specify format (ASCII TEXT, MSWord, MacWrite, or WordPerfect) and if on Internet the binary decoder you use. To report a bias related crime or incident of defamation please call the Lesbian Community Switchboard at (602) 234-2752. ARIZONA HUMAN RIGHTS FUND P.O. Box 25044 Phoenix, AZ 85002 voice mail: (602) 530-1660 fax: (602) 275-7384 e-mail: ahrf@aol.com NOTE: To be added or removed from our e-mail Action Alert list please e-mail us.