HOUSTON — The Houston Police Department announced they will change the way they handle hate crimes against the LGBTQ community.
And they’re doing it by partnering up with groups like Equality Texas, one of the largest organizations in Texas that fights for LGBTQ equality rights.
Officer EJ Jospeh and @ArtAcevedo proudly accept the @EqualityTexas shirt in support of LGBTQ rights. Officer @eJJones50 serves as HPD’s LGBT liaison and works with the @Montrose_Center and the LGBT community on a daily basis. pic.twitter.com/q7QlAKSabw
Chief Art Acevedo says he’ll be educating his officers on how to better deal with vulnerable communities in his city.
And says he’ll be doing it by updating his departments policy to include gender identity, and his officers will be trained on the correct terminology when it comes to dealing with the LGBTQ community.
According to the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs, over the last year, 52 LGBTQ people were killed as a result of hate related violence in the U.S. – Texas having the highest statistics. An 83% increase between 2016 to 2017.
A total of seven LGBTQ people were killed in Texas last year, including three in Houston -- a transgender woman and two gay men.
Chief Acevedo, says he wants to see the city of Houston, be a safe place for everyone, but they can’t do it alone.
“We need to educate ourselves as friends and neighbors, and employers to be treated the way they want to be treated,” said Chief Art Acevedo, HPD.
With the help of local agencies, including HPD, Equality Texas has launched a new campaign titled, “If you attack one Texas, you attack all Texans.”
If you’d like to help spread awareness visit the Equality Texas website.