Now if we can only get NGLTF to include a vowel...write a letter; it's important that we are acknowledged in press releases such as this.

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NATIONAL GAY AND LESBIAN TASK FORCE
PRESS RELEASE

MEDIA CONTACT:
Sheri A. Lunn
media@ngltf.org; 323-857-8751

http://www.ngltf.org
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NGLTF Celebrates Passage of Hawaiian Hate Crimes Bill

Bill Adding "Gender Identity or Expression" to Existing Law Sent to Governor


HONOLULU, HI, April 2, 2003 - With a vote of 39-8, the Hawai`i House of Representatives sent Senate Bill 616, which adds "gender identity or expression" to the state's hate crimes law, to Governor Linda Lingle's desk yesterday. The bill sailed through the Hawaiian legislature this session with a series of lopsided votes: the Senate voted to pass the measure 22-3 on March 4; the Senate Judiciary Committee voted 6-0; and the House Judiciary Committee voted 10-0.

Hawai`i's existing hate crimes law covers race, religion, disability, ethnicity, national origin and sexual orientation, providing authority to give longer sentences if a crime is committed because of hostility based on any of the covered characteristics. Sexual orientation was part of the original hate crimes law that passed in 2001.

"Today, from the mainland we celebrate another victory for transgender people this legislative session," said Lisa Mottet, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF) Transgender Civil Rights Project Legislative Lawyer. "This year may be the best year yet of passing transgender-specific and transgender-inclusive laws at the state level."

Earlier this session, the New Mexico legislature passed two transgender-inclusive bills, an anti-discrimination bill and a hate crimes bill, which now await signature from New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson. Other transgender-inclusive bills are making favorable progress in California, Illinois and Washington State. Last year, Pennsylvania passed a transgender-inclusive hate crimes law and New Jersey passed a transgender-inclusive safe schools law. Also last year, fourteen local jurisdictions, with a total population of 18.4 million people, enacted anti-discrimination laws with transgender protections or added transgender protections to existing anti-discrimination laws.

"The victory in Hawaii is a victory for the entire gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) movement," according to Lorri L. Jean, NGLTF Executive Director. "It shows that legislators really do care about the rights of everyone in our community and that trans-inclusion does not hinder a bill's passage. The wins this year will keep the momentum going to pass additional pro-GLBT in the future."

The NGLTF Transgender Civil Rights Project worked with state activists including "Civil Unions - Civil Rights Movement," the Hawai`i GLBTQI advocacy organization which led efforts to pass the bill, by helping to develop better legislative language for this year's bill, as well as assisting with preparation for committee hearings.

The NGLTF Transgender Civil Rights Project provides legislative and strategy assistance, including evaluation of legislative language, to activists and organizations working to pass transgender-inclusive anti-discrimination bills or to add transgender protections to existing laws throughout the country.


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Founded in 1973, NGLTF works to eliminate prejudice, violence and injustice against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender 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.

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Until you've lost your reputation, you never realize what a burden it was or what freedom really is. --Margaret Mitchell