Hate Crimes: November 2005 Archives

Swedish anti-gay pastor acquitted

In a sermon two years ago, Pastor Ake Green told his congregation that homosexuality was a “deep cancer tumour” on society.

He was convicted in 2004 under Sweden’s hate crimes law.

But on Tuesday the court upheld an appeals court verdict that Pastor Green’s remarks did not constitute incitement to hatred. [...]

He has shown little regret for his comments when addressing the media. He has also said his comments referred to a homosexual lifestyle, rather than individuals.

But after his acquittal, he said that everyone now knew what he thought about homosexuals and he would keep his mouth shut in future.

In the sermon, Mr. Green told a congregation on the small south-eastern island of Oland that homosexuals were “a deep cancer tumour on all of society” and that gays were more likely than other people to rape children and animals.

I suppose that it’s a good thing he is going to keep his mouth shut about gays in the future. But, he’s also won himself an entry in my “People With Issues” photo album. Congratulations Mr. Green! You committed a hate crime in my book.

I think the facts do need to come out in this case. Had Lucas Dawson not been attacked for being gay, none of this would have happened, and Mr. Knight would still be alive.

And now I’m wondering, if I had carried a weapon years ago when a similar incident happened to me in Idaho, and I had shot and killed one of my attackers, how fair would the State of Idaho been to me - a gay man in a very conservative state? I would probably have been found guilty of murder and would still be in prison.

I suppose it all depends on where you are from. I used to carry pepper spray. I’m thinking of getting some more now. It’s non-lethal at least.

My hope is that if the facts show that Mr. Dawson was the victim of a hate crime, that he will be freed and that the jury will find that he was simply defending himself. I further hope that this would send a strong message to thugs who try this sort of thing. Perhaps more of us should be armed in some manner. I’m not advocating violence, but sometimes violence comes to you.

PHILADELPHIA - A 21-year-old man was charged with stabbing to death one of four teenagers who allegedly attacked him near his home, a fight his parents said erupted because their son is gay.

Lucas Dawson was walking from his home in the city’s East Mount Airy neighborhood on Oct. 29 to catch a bus downtown, where he intended to meet with friends to discuss his audition for “American Idol” the day before.

The aspiring singer crossed the street to avoid the four teens, but they rushed him, said his stepfather, David Dawson.

“One of them punched him in the mouth,” David Dawson told the Philadelphia Daily News for a story Tuesday. “They knocked him to the ground. They kicked him. They stomped him. They called him faggot.”

Lucas Dawson pulled out a small pocket knife and waved it at the teens to push them back, David Dawson said. He then ran but was grabbed by Gerald Knight, 17, who was fatally stabbed in the chest in the ensuing struggle, his stepfather said.

“Because somebody died, I can understand he might have to do some jail time,” David Dawson said. “But at the same time, let the truth be told about what really happened.” (source)

And the violence goes on.