SAAFE 2017 - No H8: Examining Hate Crimes & Hate Incidents

In 2009, for the first time in history, the new hate crime prevention law made it a federal crime to commit violence against other because of their gender, gender identity, or sexual orientation.  The disproportionate number of sexual offenses that are committed against women demonstrates that gender may be a risk factor.  Yet, policy makers have traditionally given reasons for not including gender in hate crime statistics, including that crimes against women are considered "different" because unlike other crimes, the victim often knows the perpetrator.  In this workshop, students will engage in a dynamic discussion about how hate crimes and hate incidents can be motivated by gender bias and how to help to continue to dispel myths about sexual assault.  They will also learn about how to use hate crime prevention tools and resources to address sexual assault.