Comments on: Hundreds turn out for Kennedy one year vigil

By: Gay Lee Forward

Gay Lee Forward — Sun, 25 May 2008 19:10:34 +0000

David Gillespie said:

“And even if the assailant used a perceived anti-gay slur, so what. I use them occasionally myself but intend no hate-crime by it.”

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The above says it all. No point in taking this any further.

By: Gloria Williams

Gloria Williams — Sat, 24 May 2008 11:26:10 +0000

So do you think there IS such a thing as a hate crime against a person from the “gay community” and if so, exactly what would have to occur for you to accept it as such?

By: David Gillespie

David Gillespie — Thu, 22 May 2008 20:48:44 +0000

Actually, GLF, the resolution was passed in Greenville County, not the City. Much like the relationship between Asheville and Buncombe County, so is the relationship between Greenville the City and Greenville County.

I’m not sure how much credibility those “eyewitnesses” carried with investigating officers, who found no reason to call this a ” anti-gay hate crime.” And even if the assailant used a perceived anti-gay slur, so what. I use them occasionally myself but intend no hate-crime by it. And besides, FBI statistics clearly indicate that having “hate crime” categories in terms of enhanced punishments do not reduce the level of occurances. Hate is a bad thing, no doubt, regardless of who it is directed against and one could argue that any violent crime could be classified as a hate crime. My only concern is when the “gay community” or “gay press” start shouting “hate crime” (most often in an attempt at fund raising for some cause) without ascertaining for certain if there was one or not.

By: Gay Lee Forward

Gay Lee Forward — Wed, 21 May 2008 22:35:05 +0000

Sorry, Charlie. Outside of homophobic Greenville — i.e., the place where elected officials pass non-binding resolutions against gays and lesbians simply to demonstrate their hatred — people see this crime for what it is. Eyewitnesses said Moller used an anti-gay slur during the attack — sorry, CASE F’n CLOSED! You can argue that this wasn’t a homophobic murder, because I think there probably was no intent to kill on the part of the assailant. HOWEVER this was without a doubt an anti-gay HATE CRIME!

By: David Gillespie

David Gillespie — Wed, 21 May 2008 18:40:32 +0000

Good journalism? Maybe not. States as fact that which has not been proven (i.e., Kennedy’s accidental death as a anti-gay hate crime). FBI and local authorities concluded it was not. A tragic death, yes; a anti-gay hate crime, probably not. Journalism is supposed to be about the facts, and when making such statements as above, objective and fair.