Report a Hate Crime

NCTE has begun tracking discrimination and hate crimes against trans people. Please use this form to report a hate crime.

Hate Crime Laws

Thirty One states and the District of Columbia have hate crime laws that protect people based on sexual orientation. Of these, only ten include protections based on gender identity or expression.

The map below show Transgender Inclusive Hate Crime Laws by state.

	Transgender Inclusive Hate Crime Laws Dark Blue = Hate Crimes Laws Include Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity: CA, CO, CT, HI, MD, MN, MO, NM, PA, VT Light Blue = Hate Crimes Laws Include Just Sexual Orientation White = No Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity Hate Crimes Laws

Download this map here.

Federal Hate Crime Bill

There has been a federal hate crime bill in Congress for several years. This bill, called the Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act (S966), is currently in the House.

What Does the Bill Do?

The bill has several parts. First, it would allow the federal government to prosecute hate crimes that aren’t being adequately pursued by local authorities. Under current law, the Federal government prosecutes approximately 10 hate crimes per year in the categories of race, religion or national origin. If this bill becomes law, activists expect that number might increase to about 20, one or two of which might be transgender-related if the law covers us.

Second, local and state jurisdictions could ask for assistance from the federal governmentinvestigate or prosecute hate crimes in the protected characteristics. Third, passage of the law couldtraining of federal prosecutors andFBI about handling hate crimes in the protected characteristics. The law, as written, would also increase the ability of the federal government to prosecute hate crimes in already protected characteristics such as race and religion.

What Characteristics Does the Hate Crime Bill Add?

As currently written, the bill would add the characteristics of “actual or perceived gender, sexual orientation, and disability.” NCTE has been working in coalition with other transgender activists and LGBT groups to clarify the language to include the characteristics of “actual or perceived gender identity or expression.”

Are Transgender People Covered?

Despite the efforts of NCTE and many others, the lead sponsors of the bill have refused to add clarifying language that would explicitly list gender identity and expression as protected characteristics. While much of their reluctance seems to be based on political calculations, it is significant that the lead sponsors believe that transgender people will be covered under “actual or perceived gender.” Several of the sponsors have read of transgender hate murders into the official records of the bill, showing their intention to protect us. Congressional intent helps judges and prosecutors decide how Congress means laws to be interpreted. Even the Senate Republican Policy Committee, which issued a report against the bill reports that the bill would protect us: “The bill sponsors have made clear that the term 'gender' covers 'transgendered' [sic], which includes transsexuals and transvestites.”

Click here for the text of the report.