Judge slams gay sex stings by Long Beach police, calling them discriminatory

[left-of-center2012]

Source: L. A. Times

A Los Angeles County judge on Friday strongly criticized the Long Beach Police Department's practice of conducting sting operations against gay men cruising for companionship, saying the policy was "indicative of animus toward homosexuals."

In a closely watched case, Superior Court Judge Halim Dhanidina made the remarks in Long Beach while invalidating the arrest of Rory Moroney for lewd conduct and indecent exposure.
Moroney was arrested in a bathroom at Recreation Park in October 2014 after allegedly exposing himself to an undercover Long Beach police detective, said Bruce Nickerson, the man's attorney.

The department "intentionally targeted men who engaged in homosexual sex," the judge said.
"It appears that the presence and tactics of the decoy officers actually caused the crimes to occur," Dhanidina said.

Read more: http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-gay-sex-stings-police-discriminatory-20160429-story.html

[La Lioness Priyanka]

1. he's the states first Muslim judge!!!

sometimes i love America and this moment is def one of them

A muslim judge who says his faith informs his work stands up for the gays. to me that is essentially the best of america. we bring our whole selves to work and we support extending rights for all.

http://www.latimes.com/local/great-reads/la-ca-c1-first-muslim-judge-20150202-story.html

[1StrongBlackMan]

2. I wonder how many heterosexual men (or women, for that matter) ...

have been the target of heterosexual flirtations ... then, arrest when they act on the flirtation?

[ripcord]

3. This has been a problem at our local park

I have no problems with anyone hooking up no matter what their sexual orientation but sex acts and people exposing themselves in a public park is not appropriate. We had this sort of thing going on when the locals would take our kids there in the afternoon. As far as I am concerned what you do behind closed doors is your business just get your ass behind closed doors before you start.

[LoverOfLiberty]

7. I do not disagree

Several years ago when I lived in San Diego, there was a problem with men having sex in one of the public parks. Unsuspecting people would wander into restrooms and trails and encounter this activity.

San Diego Police put the word out to the gay community via gay bars, newspapers, community center, etc, that they were going to have to enforce public decency laws if the behavior did not stop.

The behavior did not stop and so the police began to conduct sting operations and arrest men for having sex in the park. What they discovered was that the majority of the men who were engaging in this activity were not self-identified gay men, rather men how were married or otherwise considered themselves to be heterosexual. Apparently this was the easiest way to meet their sexual desires without having to expose themselves to being suspected of being gay in the greater community.

[forest444]

8. Same here - especially when said individuals later run for president.

(on a 'family-values' GOP ticket, of course)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/rubios-summer-of-90-an-arrest-then-newfound-purpose/2016/01/21/3582a72e-c04d-11e5-bcda-62a36b394160_story.html

[Chicago1980]

4. I think this also shows that Sex Offender Registry Laws need to be changed.

Not all crimes should be considered sex crimes and or are equal.

There are different levels and different ranges.

Peoples lives can be ruined by being labeled a sex offender when they aren't.

[SoapBox]

5. Manhattan Beach a few years ago,

Set up a sting operation at t rest room on the beach...and then coordinated with a local newspaper (The Daily Breeze) to publish the booking photos and information about all arrested...seems that there were at least 12 or more pictures).

The activity was indeed against the law but it destroyed lives for most of these men...the police simply said that they wanted to make an example of them, so it would discourage such activities.

I wish we would make an example of some of these police.

[Nye Bevan]

6. Everyone here (including me) was gleeful about the downfall of Larry "wide stance" Craig,

but wasn't he the subject of exactly this kind of sting operation?

[christx30]

9. Exactly.

And if it was wrong for Larry Craig to engage in those behaviors, then it's wrong for the men who were caught in the sting. If you drop trou in a public restroom for the purposes of sex, you are committing a crime. If your partner is a man or a woman, it doesn't matter. Not everyone wants to see that.