Anti-Gay Hate Crime Skyrocketing in Canada

[Ed Barrow]

Source: Edge Boston

Violent crime is on the increase in Canada, with gay men being the victims of many of the most vicious attacks.

Hate crimes spiked by 35% in a one-year period, leaping up in number from 2007 to 2008, reported the Canadian Press on June 14. A little more than half of those crimes targeted victims because of their race; a quarter were motivated by the victim’s religion; and around a sixth were driven by anti-gay animus. But the number of anti-gay hate crimes shot up 100% between 2007 and 2008, the article said, and of anti-gay hate crimes, three-quarters involved violence rather than vandalism or other forms of criminal activity; in contrast, only 38% of the hate crimes motivated by race were violent in nature, and only a quarter of hate crimes targeting religious minorities involved violence.

...

A Canadian agency, Statistics Canada, noted that more reportage might be the reason for the spike, rather than more crime. However, a Queen’s University sociology professor, Sarita Srivastava, noted that hate crimes are under-reported as a rule.

The executive director of GLBT equality group EGALE, Helen Kennedy, similarly noted that, "close to 75 per cent of these crimes go unreported." Kennedy said that anti-gay violence occurs disproportionately in schools, with young GLBTs the targets of harassment and violent attack.

Read more: http://www.edgeboston.com/index.php?ch=news&sc=&sc2=news&sc3=&id=106912

[Newsjock]

1. The toxic legacy of George W. Harper and his legion of lil' Bush wannabes

n/t

[liquid diamond]

2. Assholes.

So much for Canada being a liberal haven.

[alp227]

3. And for passing same-sex marriage too in 05

But not every Canadian has gotten the idea of tolerance yet. But intolerance is worse in the US...where people have voted against same-sex marriage rights every time a proposition comes up in the ballot.

[Posteritatis]

5. Yeah, how's the gay rights thing working out on your side of the border? (nt)

[liquid diamond]

8. We are working on repealing don't ask don't tell and our president

has extended benefits to partners of gay federal workers. We're moving along fine, thanks.

[Posteritatis]

10. Moving along fine?

Thirty-one states outlaw gay marriage at a constitutional level, and that list is likely as not to grow in the next election.

I won't deny that there's bigots in Canada - I've lived in southern Ontario and currently live in the Maritimes - but people in the US looking down their noses at us over, of all things, our gay rights issues is nothing short of hilarious.

[liquid diamond]

11. Canada sucks. n/t

[Socal31]

4. I'll never understand what the problem is with two consenting adults

doing what they want behind closed doors.

[Dark]

6. cause JEEBUS DOESN'T LIKE IT. WHY DO YOU HATE JEEBUS AND AMERICA, THE COUNTRY HE FOUNDED?

nt

[WillParkinson]

7. Behind closed doors...

The problem is that some people say don't want it 'pushed in their faces'. No, not the sex part. It's that two men or two women can be happy together. They say it's the sex that's icky, but it's actually the fact that they are spiteful and hateful people who believe gays and lesbians need to remain 'miserable' so that these bigots an feel good about themselves when they say, 'every gay I know is an unhappy person'.

[Veruca Salt]

9. Could it possibly be that now crimes are being reported that wern't in the past?

[tom_paine]

12. Looks like Canada is getting ready for it's "Virtual Anschluss" with the American Empire

Poor Canadians. Get ready, it's coming.