FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PITTSBURGH LGBT, CIVIL RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS & CITY COUNCILMEN DEMAND FULL INVESTIGATION FOLLOWING INMATE BEATING AT COUNTY JAIL;  REQUEST IMMEDIATE DIVERSITY TRAINING FOR ALL ALLEGHENY COUNTY EMPLOYEES

NOVEMBER 9, 2010—PITTSBURGH—Following the arrest yesterday of two Allegheny County jail guards who were charged in the beating of gay inmate David Kipp, the Delta Foundation of Pittsburgh, Equality Pennsylvania, Equality Partners of Western Pennsylvania, ACLU, Steel-City Stonewall Democrats, PFLAG Pittsburgh, Persad Center, the GLCC, and City Councilmen Shields and Kraus, are calling on County Executive Dan Onorato to demand a full investigation by the federal government to determine whether or not the beating was a hate crime.

The Hate Crime Prevention Act, which was signed into law by President Obama on October 28, 2009, gives the Department of Justice (DOJ) the power to investigate and prosecute bias-motivated violence by providing the DOJ with jurisdiction over crimes of violence where a perpetrator has selected a victim because of the person’s actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability.

According to Michael A. Rodriguez, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Pittsburgh office, the U.S. Attorney’s office likely will file charges that the guards violated Mr. Kipp’s civil rights. However, he declined to say why, stating that “there was no evidence that Metz assaulted Kipp because he is gay.”

“Obviously the jail guards knew he was gay because of the specific charges that were levied against him,” said Ted Martin, executive director of Equality Pennsylvania.

In July 2009, the Allegheny County Council passed and the County Executive signed into law, a bill to protect the LGBT community against discrimination in housing, employment and public accommodation.  With the passing of the bill, Allegheny County joined 16 other municipalities in Pennsylvania that have similar civil rights ordinances.

“This abuse of prisoners in the custody of our government cannot be tolerated,” said City Councilman Doug Shields. “If the alleged abuse rendered in this case was due to homophobic bigotry it makes the crime all the more egregious.  I hope that the county and state officials take all due care to prevent future incidents of abuse.”

Added City Council Representative Bruce Kraus, “Never will there exist a situation where this kind of barbaric treatment of people taken into custody be considered to be an acceptable practice.”

In addition to a more thorough federal investigation, the groups are calling for a formalized diversity training program to be put into place for all Allegheny County employees.

“The Non-Discrimination law was a step in the right direction in affording all Allegheny County residents the right to be treated equally,” said Gary Van Horn, president of the Delta Foundation of Pittsburgh.  “Now it’s time to ‘walk the walk’ and put a full-blown diversity training program into place immediately for all Allegheny County employees, although clearly the program needs to start with Warden Ramon Rustin at the jail.”

About The Delta Foundation of Pittsburgh:

Originally incorporated on July 17, 1996, the Delta Foundation of Pittsburgh is dedicated to improving the quality of life for and visibility of the members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community in the Pittsburgh region.  The organization’s major initiatives are Pittsburgh Pride Week, which takes place annually in June, (Pittsburgh) ^RED, which will take place on Wednesday, December 1 and Equality Partners of Western PA, in cooperation with the Western PA Advocacy Alliance.  www.pittsburghpride.org

About Equality Partners of Western Pennsylvania:

Equality Partners of Western Pennsylvania is a project of the Delta Foundation and is dedicated to working throughout the 23 counties of Western Pennsylvania with those who share a common interest in supporting issue advocacy education and action as it relates to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and allied communities.

About Equality Pennsylvania:

Founded 15 years ago as the Center for Lesbian and Gay Civil Rights and later growing into Equality Advocates PA, EP is the only organization in the Commonwealth advocating in Harrisburg and across the state, exclusively for the rights of LGBT Pennsylvanians.  www.equalitypa.org

About the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU):

Founded in 1920, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is the nation’s foremost guardian of liberty. They are a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to defending and protecting individual rights and personal freedoms.  Through advocacy, education and litigation, their attorneys, advocates and volunteers work to preserve and promote civil liberties including the freedom of speech, the right to privacy, reproductive freedom, and equal treatment under the law. www.aclupgh.org

About Steel-City Stonewall Democrats:

The Steel-City Stonewall Democrats work to represent the progressive LGBT community and its allies engage the political system in the Pittsburgh region.  They endorse candidates, campaign on their behalf, and educate the public on issues of tolerance and equality. www.steel-city.org

About PFLAG Pittsburgh:

PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) promotes the health and well-being of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons, their families and friends through support, education and advocacy.  www.pflagpgh.org

About Persad Center and Community Safe Zone:

Persad Center is a leader in diversity training and education in Western PA.  Community Safe Zone is a new initiative from Persad Center working to end Hate Crime and LGBT-Discrimination in Southwestern, PA through community building and organizing.   www.persadcenter.org

About Gay & Lesbian Community Center (GLCC):

The GLCC provides the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) individuals, their families and supporters in Western Pennsylvania with resources and opportunities to promote visibility, understanding and equality within the GLBT communities and the community-at-large. www.glccpgh.org