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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsChristian extremist shoots trans woman in the face — but in Pence’s Indiana it’s not a hate crime
When is a hate crime not a hate crime? If it happens in vice presidential nominee Mike Pences state of Indiana, it cannot be a hate crime: Indiana does not have a hate crimes statute. So, for Crystal Cash, a transgender woman who was shot in the face, police will not be pursuing hate crime charges against the man who Cash alleges shouted an anti-gay slur at her before shooting her.
Cash, 55, is currently unable to speak after being shot in the face at her Perfect You Permanent Cosmetics shop in Evansville last week.
The case has been complicated by the police who have implied that Cash is a prostitute and by whether her assailant, identified as Gerald Duane Lewis (AKA Gadiell Ben Israel), belongs to an organization identified by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) as a hate group.
The SPLC identifies Lewis/Israels church as violently anti-Semitic and anti-LGBT. The Israel United in Christ Church, on its Tumblr page, denounces interracial marriage as a sin and an abomination, and also commands its followers not to vote. In recent posts, it commented upon a recent house fire that killed seven children that it was a lesson to be learned about defiling the sabbath. The organization posted a note on its website denying that Lewis was a current member of the group.
This exemplifies Mike Pence's family values. He's perfect for the TP ticket.
cagefreesoylentgreen
(838 posts)Gross, very gross still. I wish Ms. Cash a speedy recovery and she at least files a civil suit against the bastards if the state won't pursue it.
mrmpa
(4,033 posts)you can't be a victim?
rurallib
(62,492 posts)almost surprises me in Indiana
Behind the Aegis
(54,074 posts)Worse yet, many other states simply don't report hate crimes against the LGBT community so when we see the Hate Crimes Stats from the FBI we are truly not seeing the entire picture in regards to hate crimes against the LGBT community. Bigotry against our community is on the rise and is being codified by the RNC and it's current nominee, Trump.
I am afraid violence like this will become more common against the GLBT community and things like this and even another Pulse are in our near future.
Initech
(100,155 posts)raven mad
(4,940 posts)Most GOP voters are terrified because their "leaders" told them to be. Me? I rarely even lock the door on my house or in my Jeep.