In 1994, during the No on One campaign, an effort to stop Proposition
One: an initiative to legalize discrimination against GLBT Idahoans,
tensions were high.
Some of that tension manifested itself in acts of violence. Reports came in of
GLBT folks being forced off the road, of threatening phone calls and letters, of
physical assaults, and other heinous acts. All of these acts were accompanied by
words like "faggot", "dyke", "homo", "queer" and other derogatory terms.
In response, YFFN started up an Anti-Violence Project. Similar projects had been
successful in other parts of the country
Literature on hate crimes and information on how to protect yourself were
distributed. A toll-free hotline was established. Governor Batt even got
involved by announcing one week in 1995 to be Hate Crime Awareness Week.
Unfortunately, the AVP was mothballed due to lack of volunteers, support from
law enforcement, and lack of funding.
However, YFFN would like to someday see this project revived if only as a
resource and awareness tool for Hate Crimes.
This webpage will initially serve as a resource repository for information on
hate crimes, how to protect yourself, and what to do if you or someone you know
is a victim of a hate crime.
