A reported spike in hate crimes against gay people in Michigan is more than a series of assaults on individuals, advocates say.
It's an attack on an entire group.
"What's important is not numbers, because one is enough," said Derek Smiertka, director of Michigan Equality, a group working to eliminate discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.
"When you attack somebody for who they are and what they are and what they are perceived to be, you are attacking an entire community, not just an individual."
A study of hate crime released Tuesday comes one month after vandals painted anti-gay graffiti on buildings in a Lansing neighborhood.
There were 226 reported anti-gay crime incidents in Michigan in 2007 - more than twice the 97 reported the previous year, according to the analysis by the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs and the Triangle Foundation, a statewide organization that advocates for the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender communities.
The numbers are based on victims' reports to the Triangle Foundation, said Melissa Pope, the organization's director of victim services.
Pope said part of the increase can be attributed to campaigns against domestic partner benefits, as well as a 2007 Michigan Court of Appeals decision denying those benefits to same-sex couples and their families.
"When you tell the entire state that it's OK to deny something as basic as health care, it sends a pretty specific message and it institutionalizes discrimination," Pope said.
She also said increased outreach by the Triangle Foundation could have led to more people coming forward to report incidents.
Anti-gay graffiti case
Last month, graffiti that included slurs against homosexuals was painted on 10 buildings in Lansing's Old Town neighborhood.
Two 18-year-olds - Dustin Corey Green of Lansing and Scott Patrick Saren of Bath - face felony malicious destruction of property charges in connection with the vandalism.
The cases are now pending in Ingham County Circuit Court.
Much of the graffiti said "KG," but in at least two instances the phrase "Kill Gays" was spelled out.
The study looked at several crimes, including vandalism, assault, verbal threats and harassment.
Also included in the 2007 numbers were two deaths the Triangle Foundation classified as homicides.
From 2006 to 2007, reports of vandalism went from 10 to 21, and reports of harassment and intimidation went from 44 to 101, according to the study.
Proposed legislation
Tougher state and federal laws need to be in place, increasing the penalties for hate crimes, Smiertka said.
State Sen. Hansen Clarke, D-Detroit, has proposed legislation that would include hate crimes based on sexual orientation and gender identity under Michigan's Ethnic Intimidation Act.
One of Clarke's constituents was beaten to death last year in an anti-gay attack.
"This is the next major threshold we've got to cross in truly giving everyone civil rights protections in this state," he said.
Staff writer Matthew Miller contributed to this report. Contact Kevin Grasha at 267-1347 or kgrasha@lsj.com.
By Kevin Grasha, Lansing State JournalIn your voice
