The associated press has reported that the gun and ax wielding man that shot three men, slashing one on the cheek, inside of a New Bedford Mass. gay bar on Thursday has been caught after a shoot-out with police in Arkansas. Jacob D. Robida, 18, will face three charges of attempted murder and hate crimes. CNN has paid a fair amount of attention to this 'typically under-reported' crime but I was wondering when or if at all CNN will report on the the religious 'right' and its Ex-Gay faction who have been launching full page add campaigns attacking senators that express concern about hate crime in America? One statement made in the adds is particularly inflammatory:
“Hate Crime Laws Say We Were More Valuable As Homosexuals Than We Are Now As Former Homosexuals.”
These disturbing adds have been seen in the “Orlando Sentinel, the Indianapolis Star, the Nevada Appeal, Omaha World Herald and Roll Call only assist those perpetrators who wish to strike fear into an entire community. It is amazing to me that these 'chosen' ones who are to reflect the nature of Christ would share the message that hate crimes are intended to make, that the individual and 'their kind” will not be tolerated but they do share it indeed. The International Association of Chiefs of Police, the Police Foundation and the National Sheriffs' Association all support efforts to pass national legislation to help them to successfully find and prosecute those individuals who carry out such crimes and is supported by the majority of American citizens as they protect all of us, straight and gay alike in that they protect against those who act out of mere perception of an individuals identity.
I encourage you to check out some of the following links on 'hate crime' and the 'ex-gay' movement: