The Los Angeles County Commission on Human Relations (LACCHR) this week released its annual examination of hate crimes reported throughout Los Angeles County. 

The findings for 2011 show that hate crimes overall rose from 427 to 489, a 15 percent increase over the previous year after falling dramatically the three previous years in a row.  

All major categories of hate crimes increased: both race/ethnicity/national origin crimes and sexual orientation crimes rose 13 percent, and religion-motivated crimes grew by 24 percent.  

This sort of thing appears not in West Hollywood, but the city is a place where "drive-through" gay bashings take place.

Hate crimes reflecting white supremacist ideology rose from being 18 to 21 percent of all hate crimes.

 “The 15 percent increase in hate crime is cause for concern, since it exceeds the increase in crime in general,” LACCHR Executive Director Robin Toma commented. 

“But we are encouraged that across the board hate crimes based on race, sexual orientation, and religion are still among the lowest reported in the past two decades.”

About half of all hate crimes were racially-motivated. Once again, African Americans were targeted most frequently (60 percent), and a greater percentage of hate crimes were committed by gang members.

A quarter of all hate crimes was motivated by the sexual orientation of the victims. 

As in the past, the overwhelming majority of hate crime reported in that category (84 percent) targeted gay men.  The balance were reported by transgender women.

“LGBT people are targeted for hate crimes at an alarming rate—accounting for a full quarter of hate crimes reported this year. These crimes continue to disproportionately  affect LGBT people of color,” said Mariana Marroquin, L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center’s Anti-Violence Project.

The West Hollywood Sheriff's Department makes hate crimes a number one priority.

Homophobic crimes were more likely to be of a violent nature (71 percent) than either racial (54 percent) or religious crimes (20 percent).

That figure disconcerts advocates for the LGBT community  

Noting the timing of the report, just before the West Hollywood celebration of Transgender Awareness Month with its annual “day of Remembrance” that recollects and honors those transgender deaths due to violence, she said, “We know that transgender women are at an elevated risk for being attacked, and that attacks against trans women are often the most violent, and often fatal, of hate crimes.

“In many cases, hate crime victims do not report being attacked, often because they fear how law enforcement officers will treat them.

She said that the Center could help to mke the streets safer for transgenders, “We want people to know that reporting these crimes is key, and that the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center is here to support hate crime victims throughout the process of reporting an attack. Violent attacks based on a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity are unconscionable, and we want to raise our voices together to speak out loud and clear against pervasive violence against people in our community.”

Anyone doubting the West Hollywood Sheriff's commitment to protecting its gay, lesbian, transgender population need look only as far as Captain Kelley Fraser, the openly-lesbian station commander.

Religion-motivated crimes constituted 18 percent of all hate crimes.  Consistent with previous years, the overwhelming number - 77 percent - were anti-Jewish.

Although there were no hate-motivated murders in 2011, there was a case in which gang members attempted to murder three African American victims.

Hate crimes occurred throughout the variety of regions of Los Angeles County, but the largest numbers were concentrated in the San Fernando Valley followed by the Metro region (stretching from West Hollywood to Boyle Heights). 

When accounting for population, the Metro region had highest rate of hate crimes followed by the Antelope Valley.

To view the complete report including hate crime maps, graphs and tables, visit www.lahumanrelations.org.

The City of West Hollywood Sheriff Department's Hate Crime Task Force works hard to protect community members and guests.

A Hate Crime is defined as any unlawful action designed to frighten, harm, injure, intimidate, or harass an individual, in whole or in part, because of a bias motivation against the actual or perceived race, religion, ethnic / national origin, sexual orientation, gender, or disability of the victim.

A Hate Incident is defined as derogatory words or epithets directed against a member of a protected class, as listed above, if not accompanied by a threat of harm with the ability to carry that threat out.

These expressions of hate or hate group bias do not rise to the level of a hate crime as defined in state and federal statute, and are considered protected speech.

West Hollywood Pride has a huge contingent of gay and lesbian law enforcement personnel marching every year.

Through programs such as WeHo’s "Hate-Free City" hate crime prevention program, and "Crime Stoppers", the Sheriff’s Department offers tips and advice on not only what you can do help protect yourself from becoming a victim of a hate crime or incident, but also how to respond should this happen.

Learn neighborhood danger zones and avoid them.

Areas such as dark parking lots and alleys, secluded walkways, and dimly lit side streets, especially when alone, could be hazardous and leave you vulnerable to victimization.

Stay alert and move away from unsafe situations.

Call 9-1-1 if you feel threatened. Don't wait for something to happen.

Avoid walking alone at night.

If you go home with someone you don't know, first introduce them to friends, bartenders, or others you do know. Exchange names and phone numbers.

Remember, drinking and partying affects your judgment: Play Safe.

Crimes of hate are flagged as a top priority at the West Hollywood Sheriff's Station.

If you become a victim of a Hate Crime or Hate Incident, immediately notify the Sheriff in any way you can.

Call 9-1-1, come into the station, or flag down a passing patrol car.

The department promises that victims will be treated with dignity and respect.

Any delay in notifying law enforcement delays their response and ultimately their ability to apprehend the perpetrators and investigate the crime.

Victims, witnesses and concerned citizens are law enforcement’s biggest ally in the fight against hate crimes and incidents.