U.S police accused of homophobic abuse by Amnesty International

Amnesty International today launched a campaign to end the ill-treatment of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people across the U.S against U.S police forces.

Research from the human rights organisation found that LGBT people are frequently subject to police abuse which goes largely unchecked and unpunished. The research also found that transgender people, members of ethnic or racial minorities, young people and immigrants are particular targets of police abuse.

The new campaign is accompanied by an updated version of a report Amnesty published in 2005 based on interviews with victims of police abuse, activists, lawyers and law enforcement officials across the US.

Amnesty has sent the report to the US ambassador in the UK and requested a meeting with him, and will be highlighting individuals’ cases at the UK Pride festival this Summer and at the London lesbian and gay film festival later this month.

More information from Amnesty International