By law, not a hate crime

World Publishing Co
by: DAVID SCHULTE
7/18/2008

Excerpt: Members of Oklahomans for Equality, a Tulsa-based advocacy
group that seeks equal rights for gay, lesbian, bisexual and
transgender people, released a statement denouncing the property
damage at Stotler's home and urging lawmakers to include sexual
orientation in hate-crime laws.

"Oklahomans for Equality deplores the vandalism directed at Robert
Stotler, an openly gay resident of east Tulsa," said Freddy Owens, the
group's executive director. "Such intimidation highlights the urgent
need for federal and state hate crimes legislation protecting lesbian,
gay, bisexual and transgender people.

"Without such legislation, attacks on Robert and other LGBT people
will continue to be classified as mere vandalism and will not be
prosecuted properly."