by Shaun Knittel - SGN Associate Editor

On October 15, the City of Seattle's LGBT Commission ad Human Rights Commission presented a Hate Crimes Forum at Seattle City Hall.

The two-hour forum was an educational event to explain what a hate crime is, and what to do if you see one happen - or are the victim of one. The first hour was devoted to a panel discussion, and in the second hour, panelists answered attendees' questions.

Panelists included Bruce Miyake, assistant U.S. attorney for the Western District of Washington; Mike Hogan of the King County Prosecutor's Office; SPD Assistant Chief Dick Reed; SPD Peer Support Coordinator Christie-Lynn Bonner; and OneAmerica board member Hardeep Singh.

VIDEO PREMIERE
On October 24, the Seattle LGBT Commission will host a premiere screening of SEqual's 'It Gets Better' video complete with bonus clips, and will present the commission's new 'Total Bull' anti-bullying youth resource cards. The event takes place from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Bertha Knight Landes Room of Seattle City Hall (600 4th Ave.). SEqual is short for Seattle LGBTQ Employees for Equality, a group made up of city workers.

The LGBT Commission urges you to invite friends, neighbors, co-workers, City employees, Seattle area and allied youth organizations, and LGBTQA youth to the event.

'Join us to celebrate the making and release of SEqual's 'It Gets Better' video and to find out how to support area LGBTQA youth anti-bullying efforts by distributing the 'Total Bull' card created by the Seattle LGBT Commission and the Seattle Office for Civil Rights,' the LGBT Commission said in a press release.

The video was launched to celebrate National Coming Out Day on October 11. A panel of SEqual members and video participants will be on hand to answer questions and to offer their support for Seattle and area LGBTQA youth, youth organizations, and their members and sponsors.

A NEW ANTI-BULLYING RESOURCE
The Seattle LGBT Commission will present and begin distributing the 'Total Bull' youth resource cards in support of anti-bullying efforts made on behalf of area youth. Designed to offer resources and support for LGBTQA youth or others who are being bullied, the card also lends support to allies who would like to step up to the challenge of helping out others in bullying situations. Commissioners will be on hand to distribute the cards to LGBTQA youth and youth organizations and to suggest ways to use and distribute the cards.

A condensed version of SEqual's video is online at www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZRNnLb_fAY&feature=plcp. The full-length version is at www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_KKKOiC6L0&feature=plcp.

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