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It comes to this:  If the victim was killed because his killer wanted to rob him, it’s first degree murder and the killer gets life in prison.  But if the victim was gay and made a pass at his killer, then it’s manslaughter and a slap on the wrist…

Gay Motive Could be Difference in Years or Life

Gonzalez says back in 2003, he met Trevino on the street and went to his Central Fresno apartment to drink beer. But, he says he was shocked when Trevino made a pass at him and reacted by stabbing Trevino to death.

Michael Idiart, Defense Attorney, said "If you believe that pass, that sexual advance was made then I believe it’s going to come down to two choices– murder-two or voluntary manslaughter." Idiart says both men were drunk and his client killed Trevino in the heat of the moment.

The prosecution says Gonzalez only wanted to Rob Trevino, a factor that would make him guilty of first degree murder…

Dig it.  The robbery makes it first degree murder.  But the victim’s sexuality makes it voluntary manslaughter.  And drooling morons like Richard Cohen wonder why we’re fighting for hate crime laws.

Seems like I’ve been here before…

I think I’ll start a new cartoon strip…Life in Purgatory…  Or has it already been done?  Would Matt Groening object…?

Just another day in president I’m A Uniter Not A Divider’s America…

A hard-fought football battle between Melrose and Malden high schools was marred by post-game events Friday night, when an altercation near the field left two Malden students in the hospital.

Following the game, the Malden cheerleading squad exited through the crowd towards the team bus, according to Pat Ruggiero, Melrose director of health, physical education and athletics. According to police reports, a 17-year-old, male cheerleader from Malden alleged that an unidentified female teen from Melrose began harassing him with homosexual slurs.

When the cheerleader ignored the taunts, a male teen accompanying the female, described as a 17-year-old, white male with a lip piercing and wearing a black hat, allegedly punched the cheerleader in the face and several times in the chest.

…

The cheerleader was taken to Melrose-Wakefield Hospital. Another 17-year-old from Malden began hyperventilating during the incident, and was also transported to the hospital.

Pretty obvious what happened…right?  Hahahahaha!  You must be living on another planet then…

Administrators from both schools conducted an investigation of the incident and had a meeting Wednesday morning to discuss how to proceed. Following the meeting, administrators released the following statement: "It was mutually decided that this is an opportunity for a teachable moment," a press release states. "A diversity rally is being planned for Friday, Sept. 28 to take place concurrently at both schools to speak out against ignorance and promote diversity."

Melrose Superintendent Joe Casey said that five students were interviewed during investigations, and only three or four teens were involved in the actual altercation. He said the students would be disciplined, but no punishment had been determined as of press time Wednesday.

"Neither school feels this rises to the level of being a hate crime," Casey said. "I think what took place was a lot of bad judgment, with a scuffle that followed."

[Emphasis mine]  Okay…what the fuck?!  A student, perceived to be gay, was beaten badly enough to be taken to the hospital after being repeatedly fag baited by the girl friend of his attacker.  Another student who witnessed the attack also had to be taken to the hospital.  And this isn’t a hate crime?  Ah…no.  It’s a Teachable Moment.  Right.  Let’s teach the gay students of both our schools that we don’t think beating the living crap out of them amounts to a crime.  Just…bad judgment. 

It’s been decades now since I saw that "For Sale" sign on your house.  I can measure the years that have passed in all the little messages I’ve stuck in this or that random bottle, and tossed out into this ocean of time ever since.  Hello?  Hello?  Are you still out there…somewhere…?