My vision of community-based justice includes not just connecting the DA’s office with Manhattan’s neighborhoods but with its many communities that transcend geographic boundaries especially the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered (LGBT) communities who have a history of unequal treatment in our society that must end.
I fully support:
- marriage equality in New York and the repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act
- passage of a statewide anti-bullying bill that covers sexual orientation and gender identity
- passage of federal civil rights legislation
- passage of the state Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act
- full inclusion of people of transgender experience in the New York State's hate crimes law
As Manhattan DA, I will:
- Establish a Hate Crimes Unit in the Manhattan DA's office and conduct and annual bias summit. We need to devote special attention to these crimes so that we can stop them at their roots. The Hate Crimes Unit will be staffed by ADA's with special training in building these cases. And the perpetrators of these crimes must receive more than punishment. We need to turn them around with creative sentencing that diminishes their prejudice. You can read more about my proposal for a Hate Crimes Unit here .
- Prevent false arrests and entrapment. My community based justice model will help the office spot trends like the apparently false arrests of gay men for prostitution that were uncovered this year, by making it easer to identify the sources of problematic police reports more quickly and affording ADA's greater familiarity with local precincts. Furthermore, I believe we must work with the police to establish strong, universal evidence gathering techniques will improve the quality of evidence and help in both convicting the guilty and exonerating the innocent. The videotaping of police interrogations and wearing of a wire during stings would have left little dispute about what is actually happening when these arrests are made.
- Appoint an LGBT Advisory Council. I and my staff will meet regularly with leaders in the community to both listen to your concerns and collaborate on making our City safer and our criminal justice system more fair.
- Help LGBT Victims of Domestic Violence and Their Families. I believe domestic violence in LGBT relationships is just as much of a public health crisis as it is in heterosexual relationships. My "Plan to Stop Domestic Violence" (which you can read here ) explicitly includes LGBT partners.
- Promote Diversity in the Hiring of ADA's. For the DA’s office to be effective, it must reflect the tremendous diversity of our borough and that emphatically includes our LGBT communities.
- Work Closely With Schools to End Bias-Based Bullying and Violence. Students, teachers, and staff must feel safe in all schools and the DA’s office must do all that it can to design and implement strategies to prevent and root out violence and bullying.
- Appoint a Youth Advisory Council That Includes LGBT Young People and Service Providers. LGBT youth are an especially vulnerable population and will be included by my office in our efforts to listen to and work with young people and those who serve them on a regular basis.
