WASHINGTON 鈥� Ruby Corado is blunt when she assesses the current climate for D.C.鈥檚 gay and transgender community.
鈥淭hings are really bad鈥�, said the founder of Casa Ruby, a nonprofit that assists gay and transgender clients.
That’s reflected in D.C. statistics: The number of reported hate crimes rose by 62 percent last year 鈥� from 66 in 2015 to 107 in 2016.
During a news conference Friday at the Sixth & I Historic Synagogue, Mayor Muriel Bowser and Police Chief Peter 草莓传媒ham vowed to work toward improving the situation.
“Black or white, straight or gay 鈥� whether you’re new to the city or you’ve been here you’re entire life, my administration is committed to ensuring that our government protects you,” Bowser said.
草莓传媒ham echoed that sentiment. 鈥淚 want our community to rest assured that the Metropolitan Police Department is committed to finding those responsible, and putting an end to hate in our community,鈥� he said.
Regarding 2016’s hate crimes, the chief said that the聽biggest increases involved national origin, religion, sexual identity and sexual orientation.
Monica Palacio, director of the D.C. Office of Human Rights, announced that the District had compiled 聽for those who feel they have been subjected to discrimination or targeted in a hate crime.
Corado, who was among those attending the news conference, said she鈥檚 been tough on 草莓传媒ham in the past, when a number of homicides involving transgender victims remained unsolved.
But with 草莓传媒ham鈥檚 pledge, she sees a change.
鈥淚 do believe the department is taking the necessary steps that it鈥檚 going to take to address this issue long-term,鈥� she said, but she added that 鈥渋t鈥檚 a never-ending battle.鈥�
It鈥檚 important for everyone, not just the members of groups singled out as hate crime victims, to be aware of the issue, Corado said.
鈥淎t the end of the day, no one wants to live in a city that is full of crime. You may be someone who may not feel affected, but you never know: A stray bullet can hit anyone.鈥�
A鈥橬ee, a transgender woman, said she was also gratified by D.C. police鈥檚 commitment to the transgender community.
鈥淲hen you call 911, you鈥檙e not going to be discriminated against,鈥� she said, 鈥渁nd they鈥檙e going to come on the spot, mainly because you鈥檙e LGBT. 鈥淭hey care more,鈥� she said.
A鈥橬ee said that she had never been the victim of a hate crime, but that she has been harassed on the street. 鈥淚t鈥檚 still nerve-wracking,鈥� she said.
Asked how she handles being the subject of comments because of her gender identity, she smiled and replied, 鈥淚 pray.鈥�
