Tag Archives: hate crimes

Via Penn Live: NBC10 in Philadelphia reports that defense attorneys who represent some of the suspects claim one of the beating victims threw the first punch. In addition, those defense attorneys tell NBC10 more video exists that will paint a different picture of what happened. All this differs with the account of witnesses, the victims and police, who insist that …

Following his January extradition from Cuba, where he had fled Russian and Ukrainian authorities, notorious gay-basher Maxim Martsinkevich has been sentenced to five years in a Russian prison. Via LGBTQ Nation: Martsinkevich was convicted of inciting and fomenting cases of extremism by posting videos on the “Vkontakte” (VK.com) social network that contained racial slurs and extremist opinions on Russia’s state …

Ballons let go for Brian “feather” Higgins vigil– @FOX17 pic.twitter.com/jMq7tTkDoz — Cassy Arsenault (@CassyArsenault) August 13, 2014 Friends and members of San Francisco’s Radical Faeries held a vigil in Duboce Park yesterday for Bryan “Feather” Higgins, who was killed in an attack that is being investigated as a possible hate crime. Higgins was taken off of life support at 3:33pm …

In May 2013, Elliot Morales (left) chased Mark Carson, 32, out of a West Village restaurant and shot him point-blank in the head after calling him a “faggot.” Last week New York City prosecutors declared that they will never agree to a lesser sentence in return for a guilty plea. “I can assure you there is not now or will …

On Friday night a 29 year-old woman was slashed in the face after confronting a man who was screaming anti-gay slurs at a group of strangers who were standing on a street corner on Manhattan’s Lower East Side. The woman was hanging out with a group of people at the corner of Essex and Delancey streets at about 10:40 p.m. …

From the Seattle Post-Intelligencer: The Seattle man who set fire to a popular Capitol Hill club during a New Year’s celebration was sentenced Thursday to 10 years in prison – twice as long as the term requested by prosecutors. Facing federal charges in the dangerous but non-injurious blaze, Musab Masmari admitted to starting a fire inside Neighbours Nightclub during the …

The man who attempted to murder over 700 LGBT people by setting fire to a packed Seattle nightclub on New Year’s Eve is due to be sentenced today. Under the plea agreement Musab Masmari will serve the mandatory minimum of five years in prison, although the judge in the case could sentence the 31-year-old up to the maximum 20 years …

DADT, hate crimes, marriage, and much more.

Via The Local: Austria’s first openly gay politician, leader of the Austrian Greens’ delegation to the EU parliament Ulrike Lunacek was the apparent victim of an attack at Friday’s annual Rainbow Parade in Vienna. An unknown assailant sprayed butyric acid at the politician as she was giving an interview on the sidelines of the parade. Lunacek and the interview team …

JMG reader Dave Evans has compiled an hour of gay-related news reports that aired in the 1980s. Among the topics: hate crimes, housing rights, HIV/AIDS, immigration rights, pride parades, Barney Frank, Ronald Reagan, the 20th anniversary of Stonewall, the NAMES Project,  and rather interestingly, Houston’s 1985 battle for LGBT rights. PREVIOUSLY ON JMG: Compilations of gay news in the 1970s …

This weekend as the world marks the International Day Against Homophobia & Transphobia, let us all remember that it was one year ago tonight that LGBT New Yorkers poured into the streets of the West Village to protest the senseless murder of Mark Carson, who was shot point-blank in the head after saying “yes” when asked if he was gay. …

If you are unfamiliar with the 1973 arson at New Orleans’ UpStairs Lounge, the Wikpedia entry on the crime is a good place to start. Below is the trailer for the coming documentary on the worst mass murder of LGBT people in US history. While you watch, think about how close we came to this in Seattle a few months …

From the Southern Poverty Law Center: The man who tried to kill a crowd of 750 people packed inside a popular Seattle gay bar by setting it afire on New Year’s Eve has pleaded guilty to a federal charge of arson. Despite some evidence that he was motivated by hatred of LGBT people, Musab Mohammad Masmari will not face federal …

The federal government has taken over the case of Musab Masmari, who is accused of setting a fire in a Seattle gay nightclub as more than 700 patrons celebrated on New Year’s Eve. The change in jurisdiction means that terrorism or hate crime charges are more likely. A friend of Musab Musmari’s contacted the FBI in early January to say …

The Seattle man awaiting trial for the New Year’s Eve arson of a crowded gay nightclub may have been provoked by an email which taunted him to have gay sex. Police say the email strengthens the likelihood of hate crime charges. Via local television: KIRO 7 has uncovered new evidence against Musab Masmari, who told a friend about his “distaste …

This morning President Obama spoke about yesterday’s shooting at a Jewish community center in Kansas. Prosecutors say hate crimes charges are likely. Frazier Glenn Cross of Aurora, Mo., a known white supremacist, has not been formally charged in the slayings, but officials said more information about charges was expected Tuesday. Federal prosecutors were moving to put the case before a …

Miami police have arrested a 74 year-old registered sex offender and charged him with ten counts of attempted murder for trying to burn down the home of a lesbian couple and their eight children. The suspect told police that he is repulsed by the couple and that they don’t deserve to have children. 73-year-old Braulio Valenzuela intended to burn down …

ESPN reports: Brooklyn Nets center Jason Collins met privately with the parents and brother of the late Matthew Shepard following the team’s 112-89 victory over the Denver Nuggets on Thursday night at Pepsi Center. The player gave Dennis and Judy Shepard an autographed, No. 98 black and white jersey, and laughter could be heard throughout the 10-minute meeting. Collins, who …

A Ugandan tabloid has published the names of 200 allegedly gay citizens, putting all of these people at the risk of being murdered. Which has happened before. Via the Associated Press: The Red Pepper tabloid published the names — and some pictures — of alleged homosexuals in a front-page story under the headline: “EXPOSED!” The list included prominent Ugandan gay …

Musab Masmari yesterday pleaded not guilty to a single count of arson in the New Year’s Eve fire at a Seattle gay nightclub. Musmari, 30, is being held in the King County Jail. A hearing in the case has been set for March 5th. Musmari was also ordered to have no contact with Neighbours or its employees. A judge had …