GLBTQ: String of Hate Crimes Sweeps Nation's Capital

There has been a disturbing trend in the District of Columbia over the past month. The Washington Post reports there have been a series of anti-gay hate crimes in a relatively small amount of time.

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Sept. 25, 2007

Three persons on bicycles follow a man leaving a nightclub at 9^th & O Streets NW, taunt him with anti-gay remarks and then hit him with an unidentified object.

Sept. 13, 2007

A transgendered person is thrown through a plate-glass window in the 800 block of 7^th Street NW.

Sept. 9, 2007

Two men attack a 19-year-old Georgetown student in the 1400 block of 36th Street NW. The attackers yell homophobic epithets during the attack and leave the victim with cuts and bruises to the face and a broken thumb.

Aug. 5, 2007

Now, authorities are saying the Aug. 5, 2007, execution-style murders in a New Jersey school yard were possibly anti-gay motivated and are considering declaring it a hate crime. According to a Washington Blade article, the students killed were planning to attend a gay pride rally that day. Unfortunately, the students never made it there.

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As advocated in an earlier blog posting, this only reiterates the need for a nationwide hate crimes bill that includes sexual orientation AND gender identity. Though, it appears the President is still planning to veto the Matthew Shepard Act and Congress still may not have the votes to override his decision.