Was the attack on a gay Oregon man a hate crime?

Yes

A man from Aloha, Oregon, was attacked in his home by his neighbor on August 16. The neighbor was upset about a decision that the victim, David Christensen, had made in his capacity as a member of a neighborhood organization, to trim a tree outside the neighbor's house. The attacker came into Christensen's house, threw him down and choked him, pinning him for ten minutes as he shouted gay slurs. Christensen's partner tried to help and caught the neighbor's verbal wrath as well.

Although the attacker used gay slurs and admitted to police that he didn't like Christensen and his partner because of their sexual orientation, the police are not charging him for a hate crime. To qualify as a hate crime, the assault must be motivated by the victim's sexual orientation, and this attack seems to be because of a disagreement over a tree. However, a grand jury will review the case and determine if the perpetrator should be charged with a hate crime.

Of the local news stories I've found reporting this attack, all but one identify the victim as "gay" in the title of the article. Had this story been about a straight neighborhood association member being attacked in his home by an unhappy neighbor, it may still have made the local news, but no one would have focused on the victim's sexuality. The FBI, who take on cases where individual's civil liberties have been violated, will be keeping an eye on the case as the local sheriff investigates.

Christensen reports feeling extremely shaken and terrified to live in his home any longer. His attacker's use of gay slurs probably contributed to that feeling. Does the use of gay slurs make this crime a hate crime? Do you think the attack qualifies as a hate crime?

Eleanor Brown

Was the attack on a gay Oregon man a hate crime?

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