Competencies at the Intersection of Difference,Tolerance, and Prevention of Hate Crimes

Summary

This article develops competencies for social workers to enable them to counter harassment and hate crimes by examining the intersection of “self” and “other” when the “other” is either a gay man or a lesbian or when the “other” is the perpetrator of hate crimes. The authors contend that there is a cultural foundation to hate crimes and that it involves oppression like that experienced by other minority groups, that this oppression is supported by the dominant culture, and that oppressive behaviors can be changed. A typology of five competency areas is presented to develop culturally relevant knowledge, attitudes, and skills that strengthen understanding and tolerance for gay men and lesbians and to work with those who oppress them.