fuckyeahgenderstudies:

sourcedumal:

fuckyeahgenderstudies:

The starting point for sentencing is to double under government strategy to tackle prejudice against trans and disabled people.

(The thing is… is doubling the minimum sentence really going to put people off murder in the first place? Or address prejudice at all? Something tells me no.)

This is some BULLSHIT. Why the fuck isn’t the minimum sentence FOR ALL HATE CRIMES being doubled???

And why do I get the feeling that it’s mostly going to be white folks who end up being addressed by this damn new provision…..

The minimum sentence for murders of trans and disabled are being doubled to match the minimum sentences for existing hates crimes. Or, to quote the article directly:

The move will bring sentencing in these cases in line with murders in which race, religion or sexual orientation is an aggravating factor.

So… that’s why. It’s not really “some bullshit” at all.

Well, it’s slightly less bullshit than before at least. But I like that that was the first place that person jumped to, that trans* folk and those with disabilities were being given extra special rights, oh wait … that doesn’t sound familiar at all …

I tried to reply to this yesterday, but it just felt like I was talking it up too much. I think, as part of a concerted effort, this could eventually make a difference, but it’s more about making the government look serious about all hate crimes than it is about stopping people get murdered. I mean, it’s been illegal to murder since forever, but it’s like the third thing that happens in the Bible. The law has never stopped someone getting murdered, it’s just punished those who commit it.

It’s not the first guideline I’d have changed, but it is the one that sounds the most impressive and I appreciate the effort at least.