After two transgender individuals were involved in late night attacks along Dix Street NE, District police are warning residents that the crimes may represent a "potential emerging pattern." more ›

Jason Cherkis broke down the most recent set of crime data from MPD on Friday, and his findings were disturbing. While the number of hate crimes -- or, perhaps more accurately, the number of reported hate crimes -- have remained stagnant over the last three years, hate crimes involving sexual orientation have skyrocketed in Wards 7 and 8, compared to 2008. Wards 7 and 8, eh? Cherkis goes ahead and makes the negative connection which immediately springs to mind: Councilmembers Yvette Alexander (D-Ward 7) and Marion Barry (D-Ward 8) were the only two nay votes last Tuesday when same-sex marriage legislation passed the Council. On the flip side, the uptick might actually be a positive sign that police officers are actually beginning to rightfully report these types of crimes as hate crimes. Obviously, with such crimes, one must consider a veritable black hole of incredibly sensitive factors, so narrowing down one specific conclusion from such a small amount of data is always going to be a challenge. So what can we narrow down? He was talking about politics, but Bishop Harry Jackson's promise of "bloodletting" in retribution for the legislation's success certainly looks even worse than it did when it was printed next to his name. more ›

Written by DCist Contributor Shauna Miller more ›

Civil rights leaders like Rev. Al Sharpton, Martin Luther King III and others are gathering with supporters on Freedom Plaza at 10 a.m. this morning to march to the Justice Department in a "March Against Hate Crimes." NBC4 says that organizers hope the march will bring attention to racism and recent hate crimes against African Americans that have been popping up around the country. The march was also designed to bring attention to the Jena... more ›

Written by DCist Contributor Fredo Alvarez In a 60-39 cloture vote, the U.S. Senate barely passed the Matthew Shepard Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2007 (S 1105) today as an amendment to the FY 2008 Defense Authorization Bill (HR 1585). The measure would expand protection against hate crimes to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community, and would enable the Federal government to provide assistance in the investigation or prosecution of... more ›