Hate Crimes Bill

This is EXACTLY the reason we NEED to be included in the hate crimes laws. Cases like this one are all too common. I often wonder what would happen if we tried this. Probably end up in prison for life. So-called "Gay Panic" is bullshit. It is a device used by straight men to justify beating and killing innocent men. Like in this example and recently in a raid on a Dallas,TX gay bar that left a man in intensive care with head injuries inflicted by TABC officers.

Gay Panic Defense May Lead To No Substantial Jail Time In DC Beating Death

Tagged with: Assault Gay community Grand Jury Hate Crime Robert Hannah Washington D.C

In a plead deal that has outraged many in the DC LGBT community, a Washington D.C. teenager accused in the beating death of a Maryland man has used the “gay panic defense” and plead guilty to a lesser charge… and could escape any serious jail time in the death.

Thursday a grand jury indicted 18-year old Robert Hannah on a simple assault charge stemming from an incident in the September 2008 that resulted in the death of 37-year old Tony Hunter, an openly gay man.

Hannah and three others attacked Hunter and another man as they headed to a gay bar formally known as BeBar on 9th Street NW. Hannah had claimed Hunter groped him and that lead to a fistfight that left Hunter with severe head injuries.

Robert Hannah

The second victim, who made clear in his statements to the police that the attack was unprovoked, suffered less severe injuries in the altercation and no charges were ever brought in his case.

The DC Superior Court Grand Jury believed Hannah’s story and found, “Mr. Hunter fell, hitting his head on the ground, causing the injuries that led to his death.” If convicted of the simple assault, Hannah only faces up to 180 days in prison and a $1,000 fine. Initially, DC Police investigated Hunters death as a hate crime, but prosecutors filed no hate crime charge in the case.

Near the scene of the beating last night, many expressed fear about other possible incidents targeting the LGBT community in light of the Grand Jury’s decision and say that Mr. Hunter’s death was a reminder that hate is still with us and that violence against members of the LGBT community is not given equal weight under the law.

Chris Farris, the co-chair of Gays and Lesbians Opposing Violence, said, “The message it sends us this, if you murder somebody and they’re not here to defend themselves, just say that they groped and you reacted. With this lack of justice, every citizen in DC is should fear for their safety.”

He added, “I’m disgusted. I feel very sad for my city.”

Bill Gray, the new owner of former Be Bar location told LGR he would be increasing security both inside and outside of his establishment hoping better to protect patrons.