» "Not Guilty."

Fourteen year old Brandon McInerney pleaded "not guilty" yesterday to the shooting death of classmate Lawrence King. McInerney allegedly killed King because the 15-year old had a crush on him. Defense lawyers also argued yesterday that the charges should be dropped to manslaughter, rather than murder. McInerney faces up to 51 years in prison if convicted, because he's being tried as an adult. [AP]

  1 Response
» No Brainer.

"The beating murder of a Colorado transgender teen [Justin "Angie" Zapata] last week has left detectives stumped and friends wondering if it was a hate crime." [Fox News]

  Respond

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Oh no! We got some very distressing news from photographer and friend of Queerty Brad Walsh.

The Brooklyn-based homo went on an adventure in SoHo last week when an irate trucker decided to lay the anti-gay smack down. Walsh, who dates Project Runway's Christian Siriano, summarizes:

I was crossing Spring Street completely legally at the intersection of 6th Avenue. A delivery truck driven by a guy on a cell phone was turning and almost hit me and another guy. Me and the other guy put our hands up like "what are you doing," but we didn't say or mouth anything to the driver. The driver (jacked) got out, followed me down the street (not the other guy), called me a "faggot" several times, punched me really hard in the jaw, knocked my stuff onto the sidewalk, and went back to his truck.

Down but definitely not out, Walsh wrote down the truck's info and advertised company: Yuengling, the popular beer company based out of Philadelphia.

CONTINUED »

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Not everyone was feeling gay this weekend.

A reader just wrote in to inform us that he and his partner were attacked on the subway after leaving a pride event at their church. Here are the gory details, via Gothamist:

The guy kept asking us to move because he didn't like us and that we made him sick. There was no place else for us to go. He started hitting me and then his girlfriend started clawing me with her nails…I took a cab to St. Vincents, filed a police report and got two black eyes, 7 stitches, multiple chipped teeth, broken glasses.

The assailant remains at large, so look alive on your next metro ride.

» Attack, Arrest

"A gay Twin Cities man, the apparent victim of a hate crime, was badly beaten last Saturday. He claims a stranger approached him near 6th and Cedar Ave. South in Minneapolis, and asked if he was gay. The victim answered yes proudly, and the suspect hit the man in the face, yelling that he hated homosexuals. Abdirizak Mohamed has been charged with assault in the fourth degree with bias—a hate crime with enhanced penalties." [Fox KMSP]

  17 Responses

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Some Michigan teens weren't feeling very congenial to a gay friendly student:

As Wayland Union High School students cleaned out their lockers on the last day of school, a fight between three freshmen girls erupted, leaving one girl with facial injuries.

Wayland police told 24 Hour News 8 the fight happened after fourth period Tuesday, and they have interviewed two suspects plus the victim, who was a new student this year at Wayland Union High School.

Police are investigating the incident as a hate crime, saying the suspects told them the girl was a gay-rights advocate at the school and was trying to in their words "impose her views on them."

Aggravated assault charges and hate crime charges are possible.

Gay non-profit The Triangle Foundation has called for a full investigation.

» Scum Attack!

British bobbies are investigating what appears to be a hate crime. Twenty-seven year old Stephen Scott had been walking home late Wednesday night when a trio of troublesome teens attacked him and "left him for dead." Despite being beat down, Scott refuses to play victim, calling his attackers "scum." Sounds right to us… [BBC]

  2 Responses

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If anti-gay teenagers ask you if you're gay, say "no." That's a lesson two British men learned the hard way:

The victims, aged 29 and 31, were wearing commando-style fancy-dress costumes, having attended a Christmas party. They were jeered at and asked if they were gay.

When one of the men, who is not gay, said he was and joked with the group, they reacted violently and punched and kicked him and his friend to the floor before stamping on them. The 29-year-old victim sustained a broken cheekbone and substantial bruising to his face and body and the second victim sustained cuts and bruises.

Munye also attempted to burn part of one of the victim’s outfits. Other passengers on the bus were so scared they moved away as they believed the group would turn on them. The attackers got off the bus in Rosebery Avenue.

The attackers, aged 18 and 19, will spend the next 15-months in prison. Maybe they'll learn a lesson, too.

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Not everyone was celebrating after last week's gay marriage ruling in California. Three Sacramento men face hate crime charges after beating a gay man mere hours after the nuptial-related ruling.

Micah Jontomo Tasaki, 21, Gregory Lee Winfield, 20, and Robert Lee Denor, 19, face assault charges which may be upgraded to include a hate crime enhancement to their sentences if they are convicted.

Police say the three approached two men who were sitting in a car at a service station and asked the driver if he is gay. When the man said yes he was dragged from the car and beaten.

The 23-year old victim, whose name is being withheld by police, did not require hospitalization.

The men will appear in court today, where their prosecutorial fates will be decided. Sacramento police seem to think the attack qualifies as a hate crime. Said Officer Michelle Lazark: "It's a gay-bashing. Gay slurs were used before they commenced to beating him. I don't know if these guys were looking for someone or are just ignorant." Well, ignorance must have place a role, right?

» Hate Crime?

An Indiana student at Ball State University says he and his friends were attacked last Friday because he's gay. "[Kyle] Flood says he and four friends were leaving the bar Friday morning when they were approached by two college-aged men who began cursing, referring to their sexuality. A scuffle ensued and Flood suffered cuts and bruises. He was treated for his injuries at Ball Memorial Hospital. Ball State University Police Chief Gene Burton said attacks on gay students were rare." Apparently not anymore… [WLFI]

  Respond

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Gay activists are scratching their heads over prosecutorial findings in a Newark triple murder. Thomas McTigue, assistant prosecutor for Essex County, New Jersey, says he and his team have found no evidence of hate crime in the 2007 shooting of three college students.

CONTINUED »

Alejandro Fuentes Mejia's life came to a distressing, disturbing end earlier this week. Acapulco Police found the 48-year old Mexican national's body last week - and the details are absolutely sickening:

The body of 48-year old Alejandro Fuentes Mejia was found on the morning of February 21st with his hands tied behind his back in a dirt road that cut through a park near his place of employment.

Mejia had last been seen the day before at his place of work - the Institute of Social Security and Services - and was still wearing his work uniform. His body showed signs of torture and indications that he had been stoned to death.

The most shocking part? A sign made out of yellow cardboard that was left on the body that read "This is what happens to me for going around infecting people with AIDS."

That's just - so many things, all of them bad.

» Gay Activist Beaten In Brazil

Sao Paulo-based gay activist Alexandre Peixe dos Santos remains hospitalized after an anti-gay gang raided his office, gagged him and then beat the shit out of him. The do-gooder lost consciousness, but called the police as soon as he came around. No word on whether cops have any leads… [Pink New UK]

  Respond

He may be a convicted killer, but Stuart Ellanson sure is honest!

The Wisconsin convict plead guilty to holding a dental assistant hostage last November. He also admitted in 1991 to murdering a man simply because he was gay. Ellanson's hostage drama earned him 15 more years in prison - he was previously sentenced to life.

So, what, they just keep him in a freezer for the next term?

Repeat Offender Cripples 44-Year Old?

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An anti-gay attacker may have a homo-hating past, according to Swedish police.

The unidentified 35-year old remains in custody after allegedly beating a 44-year old man last Friday. The men reportedly met on a gay website - a website the assailant may have used to find a number of victims. Says copper Mikael Ekman:

We've looked at his internet use, and he has given his phone number and arranged meetings with other.

What we don't know is whether the meetings actually happened and what they led to…

With this kind of crime, people cherry pick their victims. He is choosing people whom he believes will not make reports. In a way he might be right, because it's not so easy to open up to the police.

The aforementioned 44-year old remains in stable condition, but may be crippled by the unfortunate incident.



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