Spike in hate crimes targets Utah’s LGBTQ community

Estimated learn time: 2-3 minutes

SALT LAKE CITY — The variety of hate crimes in Utah is method up and practically double once you have a look at these reported towards individuals within the LGBTQ neighborhood.

These crimes additionally went up throughout Delight month, which is simply getting underway. Extra crimes are being reported now thanks, partly, to hate crimes laws handed in 2019.

There are additionally extra individuals feeling assured in reporting these crimes. These within the LGBTQ neighborhood mentioned much more must be completed to assist individuals really feel safer. Stealing flags will be the mostly reported crime towards the LGBTQ neighborhood.

“We have been flying satisfaction flags since 2018 when one among our children got here out to us,” Marion McClellan mentioned.

She now has two youngsters who establish as queer. They’ve had a number of flags stolen. Surveillance cameras captured a few of the thefts.

Payson police are nonetheless asking for the general public’s assist to search out the vandals. McClellan mentioned she will not cease placing the flags again exterior her residence.

“The primary cause is we’ve got so many LGBTQ youngsters in our space. It makes an enormous distinction that they really feel seen and that there is a place that is protected,” she mentioned

Genevra Prothero has been via it too. “I’ve had the transgender flag taken twice,” she mentioned.

She places them up exterior her residence to help a brother and shut associates. They’re simply a few of the many involved by the latest improve in crimes towards individuals within the queer neighborhood.

In response to statistics from Utah’s Division of Public Security, there have been 72 hate crimes reported in 2020. Out of these, 22 have been towards LGBTQ individuals. In 2021, the overall was as much as 135, 42 of these incidents towards LGBTQ individuals.

“It hurts my coronary heart as a result of that is mainly saying that if you’re this manner, I hate you,” Prothero mentioned. “So to me, how may you do this?”

Prothero additionally serves as director of Davis Delight. She mentioned to see a significant change individuals must be prepared to hear.

“Come to Davis County Delight. Go to Utah Delight and see how a lot love there’s and see if you happen to even nonetheless hate these individuals as a result of you possibly can’t,” she mentioned.

McClellan mentioned we won’t be OK with the best way issues are.

“It is unacceptable. It is anti-anything that our neighborhood claims to imagine or maintain or cherish,” she added.

Flag theft is simply the beginning in terms of crimes towards the LGBTQ neighborhood. The crimes additionally embody threats, vandalism, in addition to bodily and sexual assault.