Man Killed Because He's Gay...

[ErieBear]

A man in my hometown was killed a couple of days ago. The suspect said that the "freak came at me sexually."

 

I'm really upset about this.

 

Here's a link to the story.

 

http://yourerie.com/fulltext?nxd_id=224362

[trilingual]

It won't bring the victim back, but at least the "gay panic" defense has been pretty much discredited everywhere and won't save the murderer like it might have even a few years ago! Let us know how it turns out, since Erie news doesn't get a lot of coverage elsewhere. . .

[Samai139]

This story is very upsetting but I suspect not surprising to many Americans who live in non-large urban areas where GLBT people are still "unseen" or "unknown" or passed off as "Well, he/she is a little different....." and that's that. GLBTs may be seen on television or more rarely in films but are still thought of as "not our people" or worse!! I'm not excusing the alleged killer, just trying to understand what could produce such an excuse. Young people who are struggling with their sexual identities and growing up in that kind of enviornment have a very, very tough time and may never adjust in healthy ways. We know next to nothing about the backgrounds of the alleged killer or his victim. Hopefully we'll learn more about both and perhaps communities throughout New York and Pennsylvania and maybe beyond will benefit from the knowledge, sad as it might be.

 

Trilinqual's last comment is probably true---although there have been cases of hate crimes, if this is one, committed in smaller communities which have not been ignored by the national media.

[jjkrkwood]

Unfortunately, HATE crimes are nothing new, and will continue as long as people are uneducated, AFRAID and homophobic. Hate has no boundaries and although strides have been made in education, hate crimes will never be eradicated. Look at all the recent fire bombings of Jewish targets. Sick and so Sad...

[Guest verymarried]

My Good friend Ralph was tied up in his rural Lousiana home and killed as his house was set fire by an assailant. The assailant was an ex-convict who claimed self defense against sexual assault and despite that the remains were found tied to a chair and the house arsoned, there was no convistion due to the gay assault self-defense plea and police reporting "gay literature" in the home. While I have no doubt that my friend invited the guy to his home with idea of eventual relations, my friend couldn't and wouldn't assault a flea. I guess this kind of thing goes on often.

[jjkrkwood]

My Good friend Ralph was tied up in his rural Lousiana home and killed as his house was set fire by an assailant. The assailant was an ex-convict who claimed self defense against sexual assault and despite that the remains were found tied to a chair and the house arsoned, there was no convistion due to the gay assault self-defense plea and police reporting "gay literature" in the home. While I have no doubt that my friend invited the guy to his home with idea of eventual relations, my friend couldn't and wouldn't assault a flea. I guess this kind of thing goes on often.

 

Same thing recently in NYC where an out and beloved neighborhood guy invited 2 thugs to his home for a repeat tryst AFTER they had robbed him once, but the second time they killed him.

[ErieBear]

My Good friend Ralph was tied up in his rural Lousiana home and killed as his house was set fire by an assailant. The assailant was an ex-convict who claimed self defense against sexual assault and despite that the remains were found tied to a chair and the house arsoned, there was no convistion due to the gay assault self-defense plea and police reporting "gay literature" in the home. While I have no doubt that my friend invited the guy to his home with idea of eventual relations, my friend couldn't and wouldn't assault a flea. I guess this kind of thing goes on often.

 

 

I'm so sorry. My deepest condolences.

[Phil_musc]

I would like to think that it has gotten better, but that could just be my own tunnel vision.