The best way to fight hate crimes is to have zero tolerance across the board with severe consequences. Every person is unique and therefore we are all different. What we all have in common is that we all came from the same place and we should heed the words daily “love your neighbor”. The bible tells us the greatest command of all is to love one another.
Hate crimes can be committed in a variety of ways including defacement and destruction of property. However, worst case scenario would result in assault, torture, rape, and death. These crimes are motivated by bigotry, intolerance, and hostility towards a person based on racial, religious, ethnic, cultural, national origin, and sexual orientation.
The third major category of hate crimes, in 1995, was motivated by animosity against the victims' sexual orientation. Of these, 735 cases were directed against male homosexuals and 146 against lesbians. In my hometown of Roanoke, Virginia on September 22, 2000, a man looking to "waste some faggots" entered a gay bar (Backstreet Café) bar and opened fire, killing Danny Overstreet, and injuring 6 others.
I did see a shift in the community following the sad and devastating event. There was on outpouring of prayers and support from all likes of people towards the local gay community. I think we all appreciated it; just sad that something so horrible had to happen before people opened their minds and hearts.
Yet, we were not alone, not the only community to ever endure such matters. The Brandon Teena story shocked people across our country especially in Falls City Nebraska where Brandon died as a direct result of a hate crime.
Born as a girl named Teena Brandon, he was living as a man known as Brandon Teena, when he was murdered at age 21. In December of 1993, two men who discovered his gender raped him. His attackers later shot and killed him after learning Brandon had reported the rape and was to help police in the investigation. The movie “Boys Don’t Cry” for which Hilary Swank, as Brandon, won an Academy Award as Best Actress and is well worth watching.
Matthew Shepard, a 21-year old college student was tied to a fence, pistol-shipped, and left for dead in the freezing night shocking the community of Laramie, Wyoming. Matthew died six day later from the hate crime committed against him on October 6, 1998.
The death of Matthew Shepard spawned what is now known as the Laramie Project. The Laramie Project, a play that is sometimes used to teach about prejudice and tolerance. Many of the performances have been picketed by Fred Phelps hate mongers, who is portrayed in the play picketing Matthew Shepard's funeral.
The glbt community in the Roanoke incident also endured threats from his hate mongers. I find it absolutely wrong for hate mongers to be allowed to picket the funeral of a hate crime victims. They should be arrested on the spot no questions asked. I am an activist myself, but there is a time, place, and way for that. These people obviously don’t know the difference.
Oh, let’s not forget all the hate crimes that were committed against homosexuals during Hitler’s reign. Many were murdered while others were forced into concentration camps. They were designated by the Nazis as homosexuals by the pink triangles on their uniforms. However, I personally feel Hitler hated everybody including himself. Therefore, any crime Hitler committed was based on hate.
Most recently in February a 14-year-old boy was charged with attempted murder and said he committed a hate crime. His hate crime was against 15-year-old victim, Lawrence King, who sometimes wore feminine attire.
It is estimated the once an hour a hate crime of some type occurs. How can we as a global community put the brakes on this? Hate must be exposed and tolerance must be taught. Yet, at every corner there seems to be an obstacle. The answer…..zero tolerance…..severe consequences….. across the board.
This can only be achieved by working with politicians (taking into account who we elect and where they stand on the issue) and working from within our own communities. We must make peace among ourselves and spread the message and educate people about hate crimes. What they are, who is affected, and what to do if one occurs.
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