For Immediate Release:
June 5, 2023
Media Contact:
K Richardson, Communications Manager, [email protected]
Transgender Law Center and IDEO Partner to Launch Alternatives to Policing Campaign
During the month of Pride, Transgender Law Center (TLC) brings a much-needed conversation about hate crime legislation to the forefront of our fight for liberation. In an effort to uplift the critical need for a reexamination of our carceral system, TLC partnered with creative design firm IDEO on a campaign to increase awareness of the harm caused by anti-hate crimes legislation and uplift alternative strategies to address the violence that creates conditions necessary for trans and nonbinary people to thrive.
This campaign comes at a time when harmful anti-trans legislation is moving rapidly throughout the country, and our elected officials are using misinformation to push divisive narratives about the lives of transgender people. The misinformation has led to division and a lack of understanding of how these policies directly impact the transgender community and its proximity to criminalization. And while we have hate crime laws that deter crimes against targeted communities for some, many have been harmed by the implementation of these laws. Black and brown people have experienced a disproportionate amount of criminalization and policing, which increases through the enforcement of such laws.
“At Transgender Law Center, we know firsthand that trans and nonbinary people face dire living conditions, often exacerbated by the harmful anti-trans rhetoric and legislation,” said Mickaela Bradford, Co-Director of Policy and Programs at TLC. “And despite this, we have remained at the forefront of social movements, fighting for a world that gives all of us a chance to thrive. We exist outside of statistics, and we exist outside of violence. I’m grateful for the opportunity to challenge our community to think outside of policing and find solutions that are community driven.”
“We know that Black, Indigenous, and people of color are disproportionately impacted by state violence and the carceral system,” said Shelby Chestnut, Executive Director of Transgender Law Center. “This is the same system that limits opportunities for queer and trans community while criminalizing our care and access to resources.”
“We had the honor to speak to trans elders who helped illuminate that while hate-crime laws seem to be helpful for marginalized communities, they often inflict pain and harm, especially for Black and brown communities,” said Jamila Janakarim, Director of the Racial Justice Impact Fund at IDEO. “We were privileged to collaborate with TLC on a campaign that highlights the need for investment outside of the carceral system to help the communities who need it most, whom we centered in this work. As IDEO, we learned the value of slowing down, reflecting, and uplifting Black and brown trans and nonbinary voices, as they are most often the most deeply affected by these problematic laws.”
For more tools to learn about the basics of hate crimes legislation or lead a discussion on alternatives to policing, Transgender Law Center has created a Facilitation appendix with links to articles, books, and campaign videos for easy access. You can find more information about our campaign here: We Keep Us Safe: Interrogating Hate Crime Legislation