Pelosi, White House address spike in transgender murders -
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) addressed on Thursday the record number of transgender murders this year, saying the violence is “heartbreaking” and “it’s important to listen to the people most affected by it.”
We can pass a law, we can help to break down barriers in people’s minds,” Pelosi said. “Now we have to get to their hearts, but it is heartbreaking to hear of violence against anyone, but the vulnerability of our transgender community.”
*The California Democrat referenced the Matthew Shepard & James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, which she said passed over objections when she was speaker in 2009 with a prohibition against bias-motivated violence based on gender identity.
“At that time, there had been some resistance — I don’t know where — but people would say to me, ‘You can pass this hate crimes bill in a second if you didn’t include transgender,'” Pelosi said. “And I said, ‘Well, I’m never going to pass it in a million years if we don’t include transgender because it’s important for it to be inclusive, and transgender people are probably the most in need of a hate crimes bill.'”
*White House Deputy Principal Press Secretary Eric Schultz echoed the dismay over the recent transgender killing when asked by the Washington Blade about whether the spike in transgender murders amounts to a national crisis.
“I saw the heart-wrenching report out of Baltimore that you mentioned, and I think it’s fair to say that the thoughts and prayers of those of us at the White House are with the family,” Schultz said.
http://www.washingtonblade.com/2015/10/22/pelosi-white-house-address-spike-in-transgender-murders/
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