FENDER BENDER

Car Accident Escalates Into Hate Crime Against Detroit Lesbian Couple

In the  early morning of September 23rd, Courtney and Kenyatta’s car was struck by an SUV. During the requisite exchange of information, Kenyatta and the passenger in the SUV got into a verbal altercation that soon became physical.

According to a press release from Equality Michigan:

The SUV driver allegedly said “I can’t believe this man just hit me” and proceeded to call her boyfriend, who arrived within five minutes with four of his male friends. Courtney (right) was allegedly told that because she “acts like a man” that she would “get beaten like one”. The males attacked the couple, using anti-lesbian and anti-trans slurs. Courtney was knocked unconscious. Subsequently a Detroit Police Detective has been assigned to the case and the victims are in the process of submitting their statements.

“In addition to giving the case the attention any brutal attack of this nature deserves, Equality Michigan also calls on the police and prosecutor to consider if the case should be referred to the federal courts for prosecution under the Byrd-Shepard Hate Crimes Act,” said EM’s Policy Director Emily Dievendorf. “Equality Michigan continues to call on the Michigan legislature to add gay and transgender individuals to the state’s Ethnic Intimidation Act so hate crimes such as this can be properly prosecuted within the state of Michigan.”

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