The LGBT Network has announced the launch of a new hotline in New York City and Long Island, specifically for the LGBTQ community to report hate crimes. The hotline, set to be launched on National Coming Out Day, aims to provide free and confidential support and information for victims of hate crimes within the LGBTQ community.
David Kilmnick, the founder and president of the LGBT Network, stated that the hotline would offer a personal advocate who would assist victims of hate crimes from the initial phone call to the follow-up services and support needed. The advocate will also help coordinate and collaborate with the Suffolk County Police Department to ensure victims receive the necessary assistance without being re-victimized.
Kilmnick highlighted the importance of the hotline, as he believes many hate crimes against the LGBTQ community go unreported. According to FBI statistics, there was a 6.8% increase in hate crimes against LGBTQ residents from 2019 to 2021, with 1,110 reported cases. Suffolk County Police Commissioner Rodney K. Harrison supported this claim and commended the addition of the LGBT Network’s hotline, emphasizing the need for people to feel comfortable and encouraged to come forward and report incidents.
In 2021, there were 137 reported anti-LGBTQ hate crime incidents in New York State, compared to 56 in 2020, according to the state’s Criminal Justice Research Report. In Nassau, two anti-LGBTQ hate crime incidents were reported in 2020, increasing to three in 2021. Similarly, there was one reported hate crime incident in Suffolk in 2020, rising to six in 2021.
Harrison noted that the police department established its own hotline earlier this year, but welcomed the LGBT Network’s hotline, recognizing that some individuals may be hesitant to report incidents directly to the police or may not consider them significant enough.
The launch of the LGBT Network’s hotline aims to encourage individuals in the LGBTQ community to report all incidents and crimes, no matter how small, to ensure an appropriate investigation can take place. By providing a safe and supportive environment, the hotline aims to assist victims and raise awareness about the importance of reporting hate crimes.
