Montana state Sen. Christine Kaufmann will be in Whitefish on Monday to participate in a panel discussion on anti-gay hate crimes and the bullying of gay youths in schools.
Kaufmann, D-Helena, is expected to address the Legislature's failure to include sexual orientation and gender identity under Montana's hate-crimes law and the impact of hate crimes on the larger community.
The hate-crimes law protects classes of people historically discriminated against because of race, religion, politics or minority status, but does not specifically include sexual orientation and gender identity. Legislation to include those categories in the law has been defeated in each of the past 15 years, Kaufmann said.
"We want for victims of this kind of violence to know that there is community support," she said. "And we want to make the perpetrators of this type of violence understand that their behavior is not acceptable."
The panel also hopes to promote general public awareness about the number and severity of hate crimes against gay Montanans.
"We hope to educate people as to why it is important to protect people with a different sexual orientation," said Rebecca Leinberger, the member of the Montana Human Rights Network who organized the event. "I think it's society's duty to protect its citizens."
In addition to Kaufmann, the panel will include University of Montana psychology professor Bryan Cochran and history professor Anya Jabour, and Polson High School science teacher Jim Rogers. Rogers will speak about the bullying of gay youths in school as part of a cycle of violence rather than a typical rite of passage.
"We're trying to make the learning environment safe for all students," Rogers said.
Polson High School adopted an anti-bullying policy specifically written to include gay, lesbian and transgender students, and Rogers hopes other schools will consider doing the same.
"We want to alert people about the situation in the schools." Rogers said. "This bullying can be tough to identify, but it does occur on a regular basis."
The event was organized in response to recent attacks on area gay men. A Columbia Falls man was beaten in his driveway last March and a Missoula man was attacked and left for dead less than two months later, both because they were gay.
The discussion will be at 7:30 p.m. Monday, June 4, in the O'Shaughnessy Center in Whitefish. The panel will be preceded at 7 p.m. by the screening of the documentary "The End of Silence: Montana Gay Youth Speak," and followed by a question-and-answer session from 8 to 8:30 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.
Kalispell Native
Gun kooks are so entertaining.
Kalispell Native
Kintla, no, I'm not entertained by fag bashing. The reason I said gun kooks are always entertaining is your comment below about how you always -- always -- carry a concealed weapon in the city limits. I don't expect you to see the comedy in your ways.
mtboat
What is the reference to, "many just have a Christian axe to grind"?
Kalispell Native
Kintla, I was born in Kalispell General Hospital (the current condominiums by Hedges School) in 1954 and have never lived far from town for any significant period of time. Lots of times, in the summer, like, at Art in the Park, most people are wearing light shorts and tank tops or t-shirts. Where the heck do you conceal your weapon on a 90-degree day? I guess it's NOT a stick you have up there? (smile)
Kalispell Native
The gun kooks are a fearful, self-conscious bunch of weenies. As for those who always carry a concealed gun inside the city limits, do these frightened folks realize the odds are much greater they will shoot themselves by accident than are the odds they will need to fend off a big bad bully? Get a backbone. Leave the gun at home.
photoguy
"Fearful, weenies" now that is funny! LOL based on statistic, the people lic to carry concealed have far less accidental shootings of any group of fun owners in the country, so I guess the odds are not quite as high as some may think..
mtboat
Was my question a rant? Your comment about self serving Christian gang, Christian axe to grind, people messed up in this town, reason to carry, etc. seems to be a "rant" How about answering the question?