Amnesty: Widespread Police Abuse Against Gay Americans

http://www.365gay.com/Newscon06/03/032306cops.htm

A report released Thursday by Amnesty International details widespread homophobia - including the use of torture - by American police officers against gays, lesbians and the transgendered.

The report says that thousands of LGBT people across the country are victims of a system that fuels discrimination and facilitates torture, ill-treatment and impunity.

The report "Stonewalled – Still demanding respect" is based on interviews conducted by Amnesty International between 2003 and 2005 with members of the LGBT community, victims of gender-based violence, survivors of police abuse, activists, lawyers and law enforcement officials across the US.

“The interviews reveal a very clear and worrying pattern. Cases of beatings, sexual violence, verbal abuse, harassment and humiliation by law enforcement officials against LGBT people take place on any given day in detention centers, prisons, in the home, and on the street,” said Amnesty in a media statement accompanying the report.

While this is at the same time sad and scary, when I had a "problem" and went to the police they were really helpful and understanding.

The detective, on the other hand, was old school. He had the "blame the victim" mentality.

But the officer I filed the report with even told me that any time someone calls me a faggot,THAT should even be reported, which was a total shocker.

>>>>But the officer I filed the report with even told me that any time someone calls me a faggot,THAT should even be reported, Which was a total shocker.>>>>>

I could have half of kids in the HS where I work picked-up.

Bring it ON!

This officer was pretty cool. But the detective asked me if I was doing anything, like kiss my husband or hold his hand, to provoke the attack. Dick.

to make law that marriage be only between a man and a woman....he gave the ok to the nation to commit violence against gays..and anyone that supports them.

My partner and I have had problems with the cops in our town. Some of them have made it clear they don't like us or our rainbow flag.
We've been trying to do something about the drug dealers on our block. The police have done little to help us. In fact, last year, they aided and abetted one drug felon (who has a long rap sheet for sales, gun crimes, harassment of witnesses, and has been in jail several times) in filing false charges against me when I documented his sales by taking photographs. The charges were thrown out as ludicrous, but the humiliation and cost was real. One officer, who made it a point to mention his supposed Christianity told me my "problem" was the "choices in life" I had made. It didn't matter that I have absolutely no criminal record and the dealer had a long history of felonies. The cops used him as an excuse to harass us. Another officer told us, "you are welcome to move". The drug house on the block continues to operate.
The result is the dealers have been emboldened in their threats against us. They know that if they scream "faggot" at us, stop in front of our house and blast their music in the middle of the night, or leave dead animals on our doorstep, the police will give them free rein.
Still, we are not intimidated. We don't cut and run. I've gone to the city council and demanded change and will continue to do so. This is not just about us.

Call the ACLU or National Gay and Lesbian Task force to see what they have to say.

If Fred Phelps can sue a city that doesn't offer him proper police protection when someone throws a tomato at him, I think you guys would have a cut and dry case against the police department.

We have thought about doing that and discussed it with our attorney. She did find a civil rights attorney who was willing to take the case. However, I am still attempting to get the city to change the culture of the police department through dialogue. We recently got a new police chief and we are hoping to see some changes from her. I've talked to her at the city council and have some hope for change. If not, then we will pursue legal action.

and your patience and vigilance is completely remarkable.

:applause:

who foment hatred against gays and lesbians at every opportunity . . . all in the name of Jesus, of course . . .

Piece of Mosaic Law divided by a piece left in by The Council of Niece multiplied by the square root of portions of the Pope's interpretation of the Greek letter 'beta' all divided by the political climate of the current common era equals "You want peace when?" :rofl: :spray: :rofl:

even heard that they were recruiting through the Resource Center jobs program here, and has many openly gay police officers, as well as an openly gay Chief of Police.

who knew? :shrug:

I imagine once you get outside the big city, all bets are off.

in it. It's a tourist town, and the people here are very accepting including the police.

This is exactly why there should be laws against it.