LGBTQ and Gun Violence-Prevention Groups Call for Hate and Terror to be Disarmed Following Orlando [View all]

[onehandle]

U.S. government leaders continue to grapple with addressing gun violence-prevention following last weekend’s homophobic massacre at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida, LGBTQ and gun violence-prevention advocates and activists are calling for more stringent checks to keep guns out of dangerous hands.

The Orlando tragedy, the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history, highlights how vulnerable LGBTQ communities are to hate-fueled violence, especially LGBTQ communities of color.

Hate violence has risen sharply in recent years, with a 20% increase in reported LGBTQ homicides in the U.S. between 2014 and 2015, according to a study released this week by The National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (NCAVP). Of the homicides reported last year, 62% were LGBTQ people of color.

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) hate crime statistics tell us year after year that people are most frequently targeted for hate violence based on the personal characteristics related to race, religion, and sexual orientation. According to The Williams Institute, gay men report being victims of violent hate crimes at a higher rate than any other targeted group, and these crimes are more violent and result in hospitalization more often.

http://www.arcusfoundation.org/lgbtq-gun-violence-prevention-groups-call-hate-terror-disarmed-following-orlando-shooting

On MSNBC yesterday a prominent Stonewall Veteran said, 'Rifles are instruments of hate.'

This gentleman was talking about the weapons used in the Orlando shooting. He was going to skip the Stonewall events this year, but felt compelled to attend because of Orlando.