Nev. Hate Crimes May Include Trans Protections

The Nevada legislature is considering a bill that would impose tougher penalties on offenders who assault transgender people.

Sen. David Parks introduced Senate Bill 180 to add gender identity or expression protections under the state's current hate-crimes law, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal. The senate judiciary committee heard impassioned testimony regarding the proposed amendment to the current law on Monday. Parks's legislation would add up to 20 years of imprisonment for anyone convicted of hate crimes against transgender people. The current legislation covers people who are targeted based on their race, color, religion, disability, or sexual orientation.

Gov. Brian Sandoval, who cosponsored the original hate-crimes legislation in 1995 as a state assembly member, said he would likely sign this bill if it reached his desk. "There is no room for any kind of a hate crime in this state," Sandoval said.

Watch testimony below of Elvira Diaz, the mother of a transgender child, before the committee: