Jeff Sessions Speaks Out Against Trans Hate Crimes
Addison Herron-Wheeler is OUT FRONT's co-publisher and editor-in-chief and friend…
In a surprising turn of events, Attorney General Jeff Sessions actually spoke out in favor of harsh persecution against those who perpetrate hate crimes.
According to LGBTQ Nation, Sessions stated that the Justice Department will “vindicate the rights of those individuals who are affected by bias motivated crimes.” This was following the first sentencing of someone convicted of a federal hate crime because they killed a transgender individual.
This has been making a lot of positive waves in the LGBTQ community, as many feared that hate crimes would go unnoticed or unpunished in Trump’s America. This was especially feared because Sessions voted against hate crime protection when he was a senator, claiming that the laws were too broad and LGBTQ people were already protected.
The news appears to be a small spot of hope in an administration that has been otherwise dismissive of LGBTQ rights. Hopefully, this signals a positive shift in the protection for trans and other queer individuals.
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Addison Herron-Wheeler is OUT FRONT's co-publisher and editor-in-chief and friend to dogs everywhere. She enjoys long walks in the darkness away from any sources of sunlight, rainy days, and painfully dry comedy. She also covers cannabis and heavy metal, and is author of Wicked Woman: Women in Metal from the 1960s to Now and Respirator, a short story collection.