Judy Shepard appeared on The Early Show this morning to discuss her gay son, Matthew, who was beaten and left for dead ten years ago today.

[via Towleroad]

It's not often that you see Republicans using gay rights as the positive foundation for a campaign commercial, but Oregonian Senator Gordon Smith is not your regular Republican.

The politico this weekend released an advert highlighting his support for gay-inclusive federal hate crime laws, measures Democratic Senator Ted Kennedy also supported.

Judy Shepard, whose son Matthew was murdered a decade ago, an event Smith's commercial invokes, praised the ad, saying: "I support Gordon. He’s been with us on everything except the gay marriage vote. He has shown tremendous leadership and compassion for all of our legislation. To lose that would be terrible."

Gay group Basic Rights Oregon, which has previously endorsed Smith, came out against the ad, and specifically took on the Senator's opposition to gay marriage. "…Gordon Smith was a poster child for 2004’s Measure 36, a (state) constitutional amendment that made gay Oregonians second-class citizens under the law by denying committed couples the security and dignity of marriage," said Basic Rights' executive director, Jeana Frazzini.

The Log Cabin Republicans are backing Smith's reelection.

Last Saturday, while walking hand-in-hand with his male friend, 27-year old Jordan Smith was attacked by four men. The men yelled anti-gay obscenities as the wailed on Smith, who now needs jaw surgery.

Only one of the alleged attackers, Michael Kandola, has been arrested and faced a judge yesterday.

Despite the facts at hand - apparent anti-gay violence - Kandola's lawyer insists his client was not motivated by hate, a motivation that brings harsher sentencing. It's the police, says the lawyer, who are to blame:

…Lawyer Danny Markovitz said police prejudged the case.

"When the police investigate themselves they always ask people to keep an open mind, but in this case they are coming to rash judgments without any of the details coming before the court or the accused," said Markovitz.

Const. Tim Fanning defended the police's handling of the case. "All we've done is state the facts of the case," he said. "Given the facts that we've gathered thus far, we believe that the hate crime legislation will be appropriate if he is convicted."

Kandola currently faces common assault charges, but they could be raised if a medical examiner finds Smith's injuries to be more severe.

Bostonian police are looking for four suspects after what appears to be a particularly brutal anti-gay attack last week:

"They started yelling out slurs directed to my friends, calling them 'faggot' and 'better not look over here [expletive] faggots,' " Jenna, a 23-year-old Jamaica Plain resident, said yesterday as she described the Aug. 25 attack.

Jenna said she stepped in front of one of the men, hoping to defuse the situation, and was stunned when he attacked her. "He punched me directly in the face as hard as he could," she said.

Within seconds, Jenna said, she was knocked to the ground; one of her friends was unconscious and being kicked and beaten about the head; a third had fled, bleeding profusely from a scalp wound; and a fourth was frantically calling police on his cellphone.

"It wasn't a fair fight at all," said Jeff, the man who was trying to summon help on his cellphone. "None of us are big, muscley guys or into karate or something like that."

Such attacks have been on the rise in Boston. Police reported 25 anti-gay hate crimes in 2006. Last year saw 56.

Update: Police used the long weekend wisely: they've arrested one suspect, 28-year old Fabio Brandao, and charged him with assault and battery with a deadly weapon. More charges may follow, according to Bay Windows.

New York state could get more gay friendly!

Legislation aimed at banning bullying in public schools, including harassment based on sexual orientation, has been quietly introduced in the State Senate.

The legislation, which includes language protecting transgender students and teachers, has been a priority of advocates for gay and lesbian rights but was ignored for nearly a decade in the Senate.

Republicans introduced the bill this week, but no sponsor was listed.
…
The legislation would require training to help teachers recognize and respond to bullying and require schools to keep track of bullying cases, including incidents in which students are harassed for their sexual orientation.

If passed, New York would become the 12th state with such a lavender friendly measure.