Chicago hate-crime incident reports plummeted in 2002 in all but one of the leading hate-crime categories: Race, sexual orientation, national origin, and religion. Hate crimes based on sexual orientation stayed at similar levels, 45 in 2002—compared to 44 in 2001.
The issue of anti-LGBT violence received attention last week when Horizons issued its 2002 hate-crimes report. Horizons reported 32 incidents, down 30% from the 2001 total of 46. The number of victims decreased from 59 to 38, and the number of offenders decreased 21%—from 58 in 2001 to 46.
The Chicago Commission on Human Relations, using data received from the Chicago Police Department, said the number of hate crimes reported in all categories (128) dropped by almost 40 percent from 2001 (215). This decline yielded Chicago’s lowest number of hate crimes on record since 1986. But sexual-orientation reports stayed about the same in official city records.
Hate crimes based on sexual orientation were reported in Archer Heights, Auburn Gresham, Beverly, Bridgeport, Englewood, Greater Grand Crossing, Morgan Park, New City, Pullman, Roseland, South Chicago, and Washington Heights. Dating from as far back as 1986, these communities have reported few if any such crimes. It would be premature to speculate whether the increases reflect a growing sense of intolerance or whether they can be attributed to increased citizen awareness of the law, better reporting by Police districts in those communities or a combination of these factors, according to CCHR Chairman Clarence Wood and CCHR Advisory Council on LGBT Issues Chair William Greaves.
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