Today’s Star carries a horrific story about an assault perpetrated upon two women because they are lesbians. The assault happened at an elementary school as school was letting out and many children, including the couples son, witnessed this hateful and unprovoked attack.
This is the result when fear and ignorance are allowed to run unfettered. No person should worry that their ‘lifestyle’ is going to put them in harms way. I personally do not like fundamentalists, nor do I like the way they whisper their hatreds into their children ears in an effort to raise another generation of people ruled by fear and ignorance, however, I would never assault them.
Mark Scott, 43, of Oshawa has been charged with this crime.
Insp. Brian Osborne, of Durham Regional Police, said last night that the department will investigate the possibility that the assaults could be classified as hate crimes. The decision to pursue those charges is usually made with the Crown attorney’s office, Osborne said.
The Crown must classify this as a hate crime. These women were attacked solely because of their sexual orientation. To not do so would be to give permission for these types of attacks in the future.
My warmest wishes to this family as they heal from this senseless and tragic event.
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