Gay bashing on the rise
Newly released data shows steep increase in violence against LGBT San Franciscans

By David A. Kulczyk

San Francisco has long been assumed to be a bastion of tolerance for people of all races, creeds, and sexual orientations, but the latest report from the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs shows otherwise. During a press conference April 25 at the Community United Against Violence, which was attended by District Attorney Terence Hallinan, the findings were presented, and the results weren't good.

The CUAV reported that in 2002 there were 357 cases of LGBT hate violence in northern California, up 14 percent from 2001. Of those incidents, 272 happened in San Francisco. The Mission District is the most dangerous neighborhood, with 69 reported cases of LGBT hate crimes, with the Castro District coming in second with 17. Twin Peaks and Golden Gate Park were the safest, with 1 LGBT hate crime reported in each.

The northern California victims were predominantly male (202 total) and Caucasian (104 total), with 115 female victims. Transgender victims comprised 68 cases, with 54 MTFs and 11 FTMs. Due in part to the increased outreach from the CUAV Latino staff, there was a major increase of Latinos who reported crimes, from 4 in 2001 to 89 in 2002.

The most outrageous statistic in the report is a 680 percent increase in hate violence by high school students against LGBT youths under 18 years of age. There were 78 reported cases of LGBT harassment, property damage, and physical assault in high and middle schools in 2002, compared with 10 in 2001.

"We understand," said Tina D'Elia, CUAV Hate Violence Survivor Program director, "that on one hand we can feel safer [and] on the other hand there are people that will attack us."