Many suffered from anti-gay violence in 2008

[Natasha]

Many suffered from anti-gay violence in 2008

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5g0tgjx7dlBDo3u1B5OucJxAgNicAD958P3700
12/23/2008

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — From a series of street bashings in Seattle to
the baseball bat murder of an Ecuadorean immigrant in New York,
episodes of anti-gay violence punctuated a year now ending with police
investigating the alleged gang rape of a lesbian near San Francisco.

Advocates said Tuesday they do not know whether the threats, beatings
and murders reflect a true rise in attacks or increased reporting of
hate-based crimes that persist even as gays gain greater visibility
and legal protections.

[Hazumu]

By Lisa Leff
Associated Press
Posted: 12/26/2008 06:09:48 AM PST

SAN FRANCISCO — From a series of street bashings in Seattle to the baseball bat murder of an Ecuadorean immigrant in Brooklyn, episodes of anti-gay violence punctuated a year now ending with police investigating the alleged gang rape of a lesbian in Richmond.

Advocates said Tuesday they do not know whether the threats, beatings and murders involving victims who are suspected of being gay reflects a true rise in attacks or increased reporting of hate-based crimes that persist even as gays gain greater visibility and legal protections.

Either way, experts say 2008 likely will be remembered not only for same-sex couples losing the right to marry in California, but a rash of incidents nationwide that sometimes provoked public outrage and often went unnoticed amid their numbing frequency.