NCJ Number
204397
Journal
Journal of Social Issues Volume: 58 Issue: 2 Dated: Summer 2002 Pages: 319-339
Date Published
2002
Length
21 pages
Annotation
This study used interview data from a convenience sample of 450 lesbian, gay, and bisexual adults to determine the victim experiences in hate crimes perpetrated because of the victim's sexual orientation.
Abstract
The interviewees were volunteers from a larger convenience sample (n=2,259) of sexual-minority adults in the greater Sacramento (California) area. The sample completed a lengthy self-administered questionnaire that focused on victimization and mental health. The majority of the sample (57 percent) described one or more nonbias victimizations, but none that were bias motivated. Another 3 percent had experienced at least one bias victimization, but no nonbias incidents. Thirty-four percent had experienced both types of victimization. Those who experienced a bias crime were asked why they believed that the incident was related to their sexual orientation. Other follow-up questions were also asked regarding the crime and its aftermath. A total of 154 interviewees provided detailed information on a completed or attempted bias crime. Because of the small number of nonvictims in the sample, this article reports on comparisons between victims of bias and nonbias crimes and between victims of persons and property crimes. Information is provided on settings and perpetrators, the variety of hate crime victimizations, and crime reporting. As in earlier studies, the hate crimes described by interviewees most often occurred in public locations and were perpetrated by one or more males who were strangers to the victims. Although hate crime victims reported slightly higher levels of fear during their attack, bias-motivated and nonbias person crimes did not differ significantly in their general severity; however, interviewers were struck by the physical and psychological brutality of the hate crimes described. Such severity resulted in heightened and prolonged psychological distress after the crime. Also, bias-motivated attacks function as a form of terrorism, in that they make all members of the targeted group anxious about their safety. In most of the hate incidents reported by the interviewees, the perpetrators made explicit antigay statements in the course of the crime. Hate crime victims were less likely to report the incident to police than were victims of nonbias crimes. Study limitations and suggestions for future research are discussed. 2 tables and 21 references