Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon, along with members of local equality organizations, discussed making the city a safer place for members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community Wednesday.
The forum, held at Phoenix Central Library, came on the eve of the U.S. Senate vote for the Matthew Shepard Act, which would categorize crimes based on sexual orientation, gender or disabilities as hate crimes. If this act passes, it would mean that the city of Phoenix could get FBI assistance with high profile hate crime cases, said a Phoenix Police Department spokesman said.
Gordon delivered the opening speech of the forum, showing his commitment to keeping Phoenix safe for all its members.
"This city is and will continue to stay focused on equality, fairness and that everyone is to be treated equally," Gordon said to loud applause from the audience.
Gordon compared the silence of a community accepting hate crimes to the silence of German citizens during the brief but brutal Nazi regime.
According to the Phoenix Police Department, in 2006 there were 84 bias-related cases in Phoenix. Of those cases, 20 were anti-gay related, Williams said.
Donna Rossi of KPHO CBS 5 facilitated the forum.
"Hate is learned at a young age," Rossi told the audience between speakers.
Joel Breshin of the Anti-Defamation League defined a hate crime as any criminal act which is motivated by race, religion, ethical or national origin, sexual orientation, gender or disability.
"The message is that we don't want you here or in our neighborhood," Breshin said about hate crimes.
Andrew Halterman, of the American Civil Liberties Union of Arizona, spoke about the fragile line between defining hate crimes and free speech.
"Unfortunately," Halterman said, "you have the right to be a Nazi."
Rosemary Ybarra Hernandez, a Phoenix resident, shared the story of her homosexual brother's murder 15 years ago. Holding back tears, Ybarra Hernandez recalled how her brother was found in a wash.
He had been floating there for five days according to police, she said.
"I don't have my brother, and my children don't have their uncle," Ybarra Hernandez said.
Carlos Galaz, an intern with Equality Arizona and an ASU student, said, "It is a really important topic that affects more people than the city realizes. The LGBT community needs to feel supported."
Reach the reporter at: benjamin.muth@asu.edu.
