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DOJ official: Fight against anti-trans bias is top priority
December 10, 2012
By Lou Chibbaro Jr.
http://www.washingtonblade.com/2012/12/10/doj-official-fight-against-anti-trans-bias-is-top-priority/ (http://www.washingtonblade.com/2012/12/10/doj-official-fight-against-anti-trans-bias-is-top-priority/)
A high level official with the U.S. Justice Department's Civil Rights Division told transgender advocates on Dec. 5 that the department has and will continue to use its law enforcement powers to fight anti-transgender discrimination.
In a speech before the National Center for Transgender Equality's 9th Anniversary Awards Reception in Washington, Roy L. Austin Jr., Deputy Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights, said the DOJ has investigated and taken action against hate crimes, school bullying, and biased policing that target the transgender community.
"Now under the leadership of Assistant Attorney General Tom Perez, the Civil Rights Division has never been stronger and the fight for transgender equality has never been fought more forcefully," Austin said.
In a development not widely known, Austin said the DOJ's Civil Rights Division has intervened in cases where local police departments have engaged in what he called "biased policing" against transgender people. "Law enforcement is sworn to serve and protect everyone. And we will continue to teach them how to do this and hold them accountable when they don't."
According to Austin, the Civil Rights Division also intervened in cases of anti-transgender bullying in school districts in Minnesota and California. He noted that studies show bullying can have a devastating and potentially long-term impact on young people. "For gender non-conforming and transgender students it can be much worse," he said.
He added, "The problem goes beyond the schools. But what we do there is incredibly important because today's bullies may well grow up to be tomorrow's hate crime defendants."
DOJ full of win? Ask me that 10 years ago I would have said "as if!" But now, I have to say I like the direction they have been going these past few years.