Right Wing Terrorism Watch - Prosecutor Attributes Gay Bashing Surge To Proposition 8 controversy

[ck4829]

Hate crime cases involving anti-gay sentiment shot up in Santa Clara County last year, a striking increase that a leading prosecutor attributes to controversy over Proposition 8, the voter-approved ban on gay marriage.

Anti-gay incidents accounted for more than half of hate-crime cases last year — 56 percent — a big jump from only 15 percent in 2007. There were 14 anti-gay cases out of 25 hate-crime cases in 2008, compared with only 3 out of 20 in 2007.

"My belief from having done this work for many years is that surges in types of hate incidents are linked to the headlines and controversies of the day,'' said Deputy District Attorney Jay Boyarsky, who is assigned to monitor hate crimes. "Marriage equality and Proposition 8 have been in the news, and we have seen an increase in gay-bashing.''

A review of that data dating back to 2004 shows that statewide, hate crimes based on sexual orientation consistently accounted for about 1 out of 5 of the police reports. Incidents based on race or ethnicity are the most common.

In Santa Clara County, however, the percentage of hate crimes reported to police has fluctuated from a high last year of 28 percent to a low in 2006 of 9 percent.

http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_11921999

[county worker]

1. I gave money to the anti prop 8 group. I get emails almost daily asking for my participation

in the anti 8 movement. I knew of rallies and house parties yet I haven't attended any. I am ashamed to say that I fear reprisals if I do. It takes real guts to stand up for what is right. I hope I can find mine.