Bill would add ‘gender identity’ to hate crimes

Legislation filed in the Florida House would add violence against an individual based on “gender or gender identity” to the state’s list of hate crimes. Rep. Joseph Geller, an Aventura Democrat, filed the bill (HB 211) Tuesday. “Florida has recently seen an increase in hate-crimes, from 73 committed in 2014 to 102 in 2015,” according to a press release. “From January 4 to March 21, there were 167 bomb threats to Jewish institutions in 38 states and three Canadian provinces.” “Speaking up and protecting…