ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, February 27, 1996 TAG: 9602270100
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: RICHMOND
SOURCE: Associated Press
Gay and lesbian activists said Monday that recent attacks on Richmond-area houses of worship point out a void in the state's hate-crime statute.
Last weekend, two synagogues and a church that draws many gays and lesbians were vandalized in Richmond. Windows at the synagogues were broken; one church window was smashed. Also in recent days, windows at another area synagogue were broken by a cinder block and a suspected arson occurred at a predominately black church.
At the request of Del. Eric Cantor, R-Henrico County, Attorney General Jim Gilmore asked the Virginia State Police to help local authorities investigate the attacks on the synagogues and the black church. If the vandals are found and convicted under the state's hate-crime statute, they could receive enhanced penalties, Gilmore said.
But the attack on the Metropolitan Community Church, a Christian church that has a predominantly gay congregation, might not qualify as a hate crime under the murky statute, gay-rights advocates said. They said the law is unclear in instances where gay churches are attacked.
``Sexual orientation and gender have been excluded from the statute,'' said Shirley Lesser, manager of Virginians for Justice, a gay and lesbian advocacy group. ``That does send a message that it is OK to attack gay and lesbian people.''
Gilmore said he didn't know anything about the attack at the Metropolitan church and couldn't answer whether the vandalism could be included under the hate-crime statute. Regardless, he said, regular vandalism laws could be enforced.
Cantor said if prosecutors could prove the attack on the church was marked by religious bias, the vandalism could be considered a hate crime. The statute was meant to protect religious, racial and ethnic groups, he said. ``For someone's sexual preference, it's not the same.''
LENGTH: Short : 44 lines KEYWORDS: GENERAL ASSEMBLY 1996by CNB