Ireland Hate Crimes Law Protects Trans People

The Irish Cabinet has approved a bill that makes trans people a protected class, making it easier for anyone who targets them to be charged with a hate crime. Anyone who is convicted of purposefully inciting hatred or violence against a person due to their gender identity or expression could face up to five years in prison, reported The Irish Times.

According to LGBTQ Nation, to protect freedom of speech, the bill also says that “communication” solely involving the criticism or discussion of a protected class will not be considered enough to incite violence or hate. The law will also reportedly include a “demonstration test” to assess whether a crime is considered a hate crime based on whether a perpetrator expressed hatred about someone’s identity while committing a crime against them.

Other protected characteristics already established in the nation include nationality, religion, race, ethnicity, color, sexual orientation, and national origin.

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