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Shepard

Community Gathers for Historic Hate Crimes Signing

Submitted by Breanna on Wed, 10/28/2009 - 11:43pm

Today President Obama signed into law the first federal law protecting transgender people in US history: The Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act.

In attendance for the White House signing celebration was a gathering of leading national LGBT rights leaders including Ingersoll Gender Center's own founder and co-President, Marsha Botzer.

"This is truly a great moment for our community. Through perseverance and unfailing teamwork and solidarity with the full LGBT community and with communities of color, through the legislative process and with a supportive administration, we have made great strides toward justice. " stated Marsha following the signing ceremony. "Legislation does not in itself bring about justice or the lessening of hate but it sends important signals to everyone that violence against our community cannot be tolerated and puts vital tools in the hands of law enforcement."

Just weeks from the annual observation of the Transgender Day of Remembrance we have received official recognition of the fact that violence against transgender people due to their gender identity and expression constitutes a hate crime.

In televised statements following the signing, President Obama made clear the importance and symbolic significance of adding sexual orientation and gender identity to national Hate Crimes protection:

Founder's Corner

What will you do to be free?

Will you grant a voice to your worries about gender and identity? Where can you do this safely? How is it done?

Visit us! Come to Ingersoll and do not be afraid. Come here and talk about what is going on when you think about gender and gender expression.

Do this, and no absolute will compel you an inch further. The steps ahead are all yours.

We do not guide lives, we open doors. This is the good work we do, work shaped by decades of learning and thousands of visitors to Ingersoll.

For the future,
Marsha Botzer

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