Colorado's Hate Crimes Law
In 1988, Colorado became the first state in the United States to have a hate crimes law. Although an important first step, “The Ethnic Intimidation Act” included limited protections. In 2005, the state legislature amended the law - renamed it a “Bias Motivated Crime” — and added sexual orientation and mental and physical disability as protections. The term “sexual orientation” is specifically defined in the law to include “transgender status.” Therefore, the law also provides protection for gender identity and expression.
The Colorado hate crime law covers any crime committed with the intent to intimidate or harass another person because of that person’s actual or perceived race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, physical or mental disability, or sexual orientation. This does not just include acts of physical violence, but words or actions threatening injury and crimes committed to an individual’s property.
Strong hate crime laws send a message to victims, perpetrators, and law enforcement officials that crimes motivated by bigotry and hatred will not be tolerated in this state. Bias motivated crimes are not like any other crime because they are intended to create fear among an entire community of citizens.
If you believe you have been the target of a bias-motivated crime, immediately contact the police and report it.
A copy of Colorado’s Bias Motivated Crime Statute can be found here.
The trial of Angie Zapata’s alleged killer marks the first time that Colorado’s gender identity-inclusive hate crimes statute - and in fact any state’s hate crimes law — has been applied in the investigation and prosecution of an anti-transgender murder case.