To: The Nebraska State Senate
Pass LB 504 to add gender identity to Nebraska's Hate Crimes Law
Pass Senator Hunt's LB504! The bill would help address the fatal violence against the transgender community. LB504 would add gender identity to Nebraska's Hate Crimes law, which will assist the FBI in investigating hate crimes.
Why is this important?
One in four transgender people will experience assault in their lives because they are transgender. LB504 is just one step to protect transgender people and end the violence.
There are many factors as to why transgender people face this violence. For example, in many states including Nebraska, it is difficult to impossible for transgender people to update the gender marker listed on their driver's license or birth certificate. Without identification matching their gender, transgender people frequently are "outed" as transgender in everyday interactions at bars, movie theaters, hospitals, or with police. These interactions can lead to harassment and violence.
A ProPublica report documented, being known as transgender leads to pervasive job discrimination. Without laws protecting transgender people from discrimination face housing and food insecurity, homelessness and criminalization. Thus, it is vital that the Nebraska Unicameral pass LB504 to add gender identity to the Hate Crimes law.
This violence against the transgender community has steadily risen in recent years. Last year 26 transgender people were fatally shot or killed by other violent means. In 2017, 29 transgender people were killed, and in 2016 the number was 23.
Let's pass LB504 in remembrance of those transgender lives lost in 2018:
- Crista Leigh Steele-Knudslien, 42
- Vicky Gutierrez, 33
- Celine Walker, 36
- Tanya Harvey, 35
- Zakaria Fry, 28
- Phylicia Mitchell, 45
- Amia Tyrae Berryman, 28
- Sasha Wall, 29
- Karla Patricia Flores, 26
- Nino Fortson, 36
- Gigi Pierce, 28
- Roxana Hernandez, 33
- Antash'a English, 38
- Diamond Stephens, 39
- Cathalina Christina James, 24
- Keisha Wells, 54
- Sasha Garden, 27
- Vontashia Bell, 18
- Dejanay Stanton, 24
- Shantee Tucker, 30
- Londonn Moore, 20
- Nikki Enriquez, 28
- Ciara Minaj Carter Frazier, 31
- Regina Denise Brown, 53
- Tydi Dansbury, 37
- Keanna Mattel, 35
*All information was from the ACLU and HRC*
There are many factors as to why transgender people face this violence. For example, in many states including Nebraska, it is difficult to impossible for transgender people to update the gender marker listed on their driver's license or birth certificate. Without identification matching their gender, transgender people frequently are "outed" as transgender in everyday interactions at bars, movie theaters, hospitals, or with police. These interactions can lead to harassment and violence.
A ProPublica report documented, being known as transgender leads to pervasive job discrimination. Without laws protecting transgender people from discrimination face housing and food insecurity, homelessness and criminalization. Thus, it is vital that the Nebraska Unicameral pass LB504 to add gender identity to the Hate Crimes law.
This violence against the transgender community has steadily risen in recent years. Last year 26 transgender people were fatally shot or killed by other violent means. In 2017, 29 transgender people were killed, and in 2016 the number was 23.
Let's pass LB504 in remembrance of those transgender lives lost in 2018:
- Crista Leigh Steele-Knudslien, 42
- Vicky Gutierrez, 33
- Celine Walker, 36
- Tanya Harvey, 35
- Zakaria Fry, 28
- Phylicia Mitchell, 45
- Amia Tyrae Berryman, 28
- Sasha Wall, 29
- Karla Patricia Flores, 26
- Nino Fortson, 36
- Gigi Pierce, 28
- Roxana Hernandez, 33
- Antash'a English, 38
- Diamond Stephens, 39
- Cathalina Christina James, 24
- Keisha Wells, 54
- Sasha Garden, 27
- Vontashia Bell, 18
- Dejanay Stanton, 24
- Shantee Tucker, 30
- Londonn Moore, 20
- Nikki Enriquez, 28
- Ciara Minaj Carter Frazier, 31
- Regina Denise Brown, 53
- Tydi Dansbury, 37
- Keanna Mattel, 35
*All information was from the ACLU and HRC*