More links on Memphis beating

WREG in Memphis ran this story with the reaction of the local GLBT community. Our own Jonathan Cole, who blogs here, is quoted.

"This is really what a hate crime looks like," says Jonathan Cole with the Tennessee Equality Project. "It clearly looks like from the video that people were looking the other way. That I think a symptom of the homophobia that exists within our community."

Cole says gay -- and especially transgender people -- face a dangerous indifference and that the video strongly indicates a hate crime.

Nashville's WSMV ran the video of the beating and an interview with the victim and her attorney.

The Commercial Appeal has this story that focuses on the firing of one of the officers involved. But they also note a new campaign that Amnesty International is launching to draw attention to the violence suffered by transgender people.

Amnesty International, which has been tracking police violence against lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgendered individuals is holding a news conference today in Chicago to discuss a campaign it is launching in that city to protest such violence.

The group reports widespread abuse by law enforcement ranging from derogatory language and excessive handling to rape and assault, said Ariel Herrera of Amnesty International.

"The most vulnerable are transgendered individuals of color," Herrera said. "They are the most stigmatized in the community and often targeted by police."