In numerous ways the recent election has given license for many people to act on hate. The FBI recently released its annual hate crime statistics for 2015, which demonstrated a six percent increase in hate crimes and an alarming 67 percent surge in hate crimes targeting the Muslim American community in the past year.
 
The recent increase in reported hate crimes is a reminder that we must join together to speak out against hate in all forms. As a national bar association for LGBT lawyers, judges, and other legal professionals, law students, activists, and allies, now is the time for us to act as voices for all of those at the forefront of discrimination.
 
With your support, we have the ability to assist our members who may be part of or work with communities affected by hate violence. We worked with sister organizations to create a Hate Crimes Resources Toolkit, which has information about reporting incidents, supporting community organizations, offering legal services, and coordinating with government agencies.
 
The LGBT Bar embraces the solidarity and strength of our robust community, and we are committed to our mission to serve as the voice of the LGBT community in the legal profession.
 
As we move forward into the new year to denounce the rising tide of hate, we ask that you keep us first in mind by making a generous tax-deductible contribution to the LGBT Bar Foundation to ensure 2017 is the best that it can be!
 

In Solidarity,
 
 
D’Arcy Kemnitz, Esq.
Executive Director

The National LGBT Bar Association is a national association of lawyers, judges and other legal professionals, law students, activists and affiliated LGBT legal organizations. The Association promotes justice in and through the legal profession for the LGBT community in all its diversity.

www.lgbtbar.org