Keeping Ourselves Whole: Addressing Hate Crimes Against the Trans Community

ABSTRACT

Keeping Ourselves Whole: Addressing Hate Crimes Against the Trans Community

FORGE, Inc., the country’s 28 year old preeminent transgender anti-violence organization, is proposing “Keeping Ourselves Whole: Addressing Hate Crimes Against the Trans Community,” a national project to address the myriad physical and mental health effects and service gaps facing trans people as a result of multiple and pervasive types of anti-trans hate crimes. The project’s goal, “support comprehensive community-based approaches to addressing hate crimes that promote community awareness and preparedness, increase victim reporting, and improve prevention efforts and responses to hate crimes,” will be met through four major objectives:

Survey. As part of project planning and to develop data to base further work upon, a national quantitative and qualitative survey will assess the trans community’s experiences and beliefs about hate crimes.

Shuttle dialogue. A 3-year-long law enforcement/trans advocates carefully facilitated shuttle dialogue will address the severe and sensitive rift between the groups, resulting in an action agenda that can guide further healing and promote increased hate crime reporting.

Best practices. A collection and publication of best practices for communities responding to hate crimes in their midst will improve the availability of services and supports for primary and secondary victims.

Training. Throughout the project, quarterly training webinars and conference workshops addressing the trans community, law enforcement, and/or service providers likely to come into contact with trans hate crime survivors will improve the availability and culturally-competent effectiveness of trauma-informed services, improve the resiliency of trans primary and secondary hate crime survivors, and promote the reporting of hate crimes.

FORGE is requesting $299,176.44 for this three year project.

Neither FORGE nor its currently confirmed partners have federal funding that overlaps this project.

FORGE is applying for priority consideration in both categories 1(A) and 1(B). The applicant for this project, FORGE, Inc., is a culturally-specific transgender organization that exists to remove barriers to access and opportunity for the transgender community, which has been historically underserved, marginalized, and adversely affected by inequality. 77% ($229,843.14) of the funds will go directly to FORGE for personnel, fringe, and direct expenses. Further details pertaining to priorities 1(A) and 1(B) are included on pages 11 and 12 of the narrative.