It may become harder to track crimes against LGBT+ teenagers thanks to new request form Justice Department

The US Department of Justice is trying to cease tracking of crimes against LGBT+ teenagers. Currently, authorities can ask victims of crimes who are 16 years and older if they identify as LGBT+. The Justice Department wants to limit that to 18 years and older, “due to concerns about the potential sensitivity of these questions for adolescents.”

Activists worry this limit essential data on the rates of hate crimes against LGBT+ youths. For example, currently, 44 percent of lesbians report being the victim of stalking, rape, or assault, compared to 35 percent of straight women. Limiting the collection of data will restrict proper understanding and analysis of the problem.

Adam P. Romero, director of federal policy at the Williams Institute says, “The Bureau of Justice Statistics at the Department of Justice has been a leader in advancing knowledge about the LGBT population, but the bureau’s new leadership seems to want to bury its head in the sand.”

“We know that LGBT youth are more likely to be victimized, sometimes by their own families, and we need data from the NCVS to learn whether crimes are reported and how the criminal justice system is responding to young LGBT victims,” Kerith J. Conron from the Williams Institute adds.

Activists are quick to point out these new guidelines are similar to other attempts from the Trump White House to erase LGBT+ people from survey data, notably the administration attempted to remove sexual orientation and gender identity form the 2020 census.

_________________

LGBT professionals, LGBT Graduates, LGBT professional network, LGBT professional events, LGBT networking events, LGBT Recruitment, LGBT Friendly organisations, LGBT Friendly companies, LGBT jobs
__________________

SIGN UP to myGwork, the global networking and recruitment hub for LGBTI professionals and graduates

www.mygwork.com
Follow us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
Follow us on LinkedIn