So in simple english Elmer, they didn’t try to rob you to get your wallet, they singled you out and attacked you because of one of the above.

It’s not a matter of being at the wrong place at the wrong time, it’s a matter of BEING the wrong PERSON in the eyes of your attacker, and nothing more. I personally think age should be on that list, as children and the elderly are often attacked due to the vulnerability of their age. But then again, I suppose the list could go on forever.

from the DOJ

Hate crime is the violence of intolerance and bigotry, intended to hurt and intimidate someone because of their race, ethnicity, national origin, religious, sexual orientation, or disability.

So crimes such as this go against a group of people as opposed to the individual.

Ultimately there is a difference between “prosecuted as a hate crime” and “convicted as a hate crime” - the legal system will determine if this crime occurred because of the sexual orientation of the victims and they will be punished accordingly.

But…..I think you are assuming that the perpetrators are heterosexual. So, if they beat me the same way they beat Lance they should get off with a lighter punishment?

I can start to buy into your arguments but something holds me back.

Hate crimes are of a different variety, and of a breed being expoused currently by the county.

Hate crimes are of a different breed, as being expoused against people of color and people of economy by our county government.

Hate crimes are illegal. To doctor them up under the guise of an “appeal” or under the reasoning of “controlling threats” still makes them hate crimes.

It goes something like this Maggie: With liberty and JUSTICE (and equal benefits, and public access) TO ALL.

Bad people do bad things and it’s pretty obvious they don’t concern themselves very much with what elected officials’ policy positions are before they commit horrific crimes of this nature. New York has hate crime legislation on the books now. It didn’t make any difference for Lance Neve, just as it didn’t make any difference for me.

My family was victim of a hate crime within the past month. The suspects were arrested, charged, and are awaiting trial. I’ve seen the arresting officer’s deposition and the person whose idea this was in the first stated; “I’m not sorry and if given the chance, I will do it again.”

Another quality individual setting the tone for civil behavior in Spencerport is the village’s very own county legislator Dick Yolevich himself. The one person in the legislature that finds even the abstract symbols of people tolerating each other despite their differences repugnant.