On July 14, 2011 an unidentified 27-year-old man was assaulted in Asheville, NC, by a group of four attackers who targeted him because they believed him to be gay. The man is currently recovering from multiple facial fractures. Asheville Police Department is investigating the attack and will report it to the State Bureau of Investigation as a hate crime; however current NC law would not recognize this as a hate crime. Further details are available here.
This is a tragic act of violence. Our thoughts are with the victim as he recovers. We want all LGBT people in North Carolina and the South to know that when such incidents occur, they are not alone. Our legislators need to understand that the proposed anti-gay amendment in NC fuels such violence against LGBT people and that we need to be protected under hate crimes laws, says Jasmine Beach-Ferrara, Executive Director of the Campaign for Southern Equality.
The Campaign for Southern Equality offers support and crisis response services to LGBT people who experience violence, discrimination and harassment. Services are free and confidential and are provided by volunteer lawyers, counselors and clergy. People can also report incidents through our mapping system, which tracks anti-LGBT attacks and discrimination in the South and across the country.
To access services, contact us through our website, email us at southernequality@gmail.com, or call us at 828.761.1224.
