A gay couple were attacked an d robbed in a city park July 2 in Atlanta. There are three interesting parts of this story (an attack on a gay couple, unfortunately is not all that uncommon). First, the couple fought back and until the three attackers were reinforced by eight to ten others had the upper hand. Second, the police responded quickly and arrested six people. Third, the Atlanta police have classified the attack as a bias crime although the great state of Georgia does not have a hate crime statute. In fact, Georgia doesn't view lesbians, gays, transgender, bisexual and queer people as deserving of full rights, but rather as still second-class citizens who are not legally allowed to get married but can be fired for being gay.
Meanwhile, Atlanta Police Department Officer Patricia Powell, the recently appointed LGBT liaison, said she is considering offering a safety course to gay Midtown residents following the incident.
THE FOLLOWING IS FROM THE GEORGIA VOICE.
A gay couple beaten and robbed in Piedmont Park by a group of male youths has been classified as a "bias crime" by Atlanta Police officials.
Rev. Josh Noblitt (pictured here) of Saint Mark United Methodist Church and his partner were picnicking in the park on the evening of July 2 when they were approached by several young black males and beaten and then robbed at gunpoint.
The first three young men who approached Noblitt and his partner asked, "Are y’all gay? Two men laying on a blanket. We ought to beat y’all for that,’” Noblitt told the Georgia Voice.
Carlos Campos, spokesperson for the APD, said today they have classified the crime as a "bias crime."
Campos said the APD is acknowledging it also did not follow protocol by informing Officer Patricia Powell, the LGBT liaison, about the incident until several days after it occurred.
Campos said in a statement:
"The Atlanta Police Department is treating Friday’s armed robbery of two gay men in Piedmont Park as a 'bias crime.' This is how the department classifies crimes in which bias based on color, nationality, sexual orientation or other factors played a role in the attack.
"Georgia, however, does not have a hate crimes statute, so there is not a separate charge attached to the incident.
"Department policy requires that the GLBT liaison be contacted in the event of a bias crime against anyone in the gay community. That did not happen in this incident. Department commanders will reiterate this policy to ensure compliance in the future.
"Senior Patrol Officer Patricia Powell, who recently was named a GLBT liaison, will also be visiting personally with officers in the field to emphasize the importance of this procedure. It should also be noted that Officer Powell reached out to the victims of the Piedmont Park assault upon learning of the incident, and is re-doubling her efforts to communicate with the gay community, including the forming of a new GLBT advisory board for the APD."
Six suspects were arrested in the crime, ranging in ages from 13 through 19.
Watch www.thegavoice.com for further information as it is made available.
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