COLUMBIA, S.C. — The LaDime Doe case being heard by a federal court in Richland County and its the first of its kind.
It’s the first federal gender-based hate crime trial.
South Carolina trans-advocates say this case is a form of progress.
“This is definitely kind of a flash point in American History for transgender rights,” Zoe Glass with SC United for Justice and Equality said.
She said this is the least they can do since this is the first time a federal gender-based hate crime is being tried.
“It demonstrates for the first time the federal government stepping in and saying no we’re going to protect not just these people we’re going to protect everyone,” Glass said.
Lisa Ridgeway is also an advocate with the Harriet Hancock Center. She said this has been a long time coming for LGBTQ+ community.
“To be honest it’s about time with everything that the LGBT community has to go through to be who we are it’s crazy,” Ridgeway said.
She said with a long history of inequality she says this is a small step towards change.
“We’re people we just want to live our lives we don’t want anything special we want the same law that apply to everybody,” she said.
While there is progress Ridgeway adds there are still setbacks.
“We’re seeing a lot more of this happen throughout the US and South Carolina needs to get on board with the hate crimes and get ‘em goin’,” she said.
In 2022, the FBI reported there were more than 11,000 hate crime incidents and more than 17% were based on sexual orientation and gender.
Gregory Green is with Transgender Awareness Alliance, he said this case calls for more change in South Carolina.
“It makes a huge difference but what is the sustainable action that happens after this? We can talk about it on the news we can talk about it at the state house within community but when is an actionable step going to happen?” he said.
Each community advocate added they hope this case brings attention to a need for a state hate crime law.