Nathan Runkle (age 24), founder of Mercy for Animals, was brutally beaten outside of a gay nightclub in Ohio on Saturday, December 27, 2008.  Nathan, best know for his work as an animal rights activist was also voted as one of VegNews Magazine’s “25 Most Fascinating Vegetarians”.

As crimes against LGBT people continue to rise year after year, we are forced to reexamine the importance of hate crimes legislation.  Regrettably, Ohio has no hate crimes protections for LGBT people nor does the U.S. Federal Government currently have mandates for hate crime reporting.  These facts, as well as the fear experienced by many LGBT people after an attack, often mean these hate crimes go unreported or under represented.

As part of the letter to Obama being circulated for the National DOMA Protest, LGBT activists and their allies are requesting the passage of the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Act.  Please take a moment to review information provided by Join The Impact and participate in this important movement toward equality.

For more information regarding Nathan Runkle, please see:

gayrights.change.org’s blog on the subject.

Queer Animals blog regarding the attack.

The small amount of media coverage regarding the murder of Moses “Teish” Cannon has been confusing at best and unremarkable at most.  What is known is that Teish, who self-identified as a woman, was murdered in Syracuse, New York on November 14, 2008 after being invited by a family friend to a party.  Currently, the only motive reported for the terrible crime is that she was “gay.”

This is where the news media stumbles and I stumble in an effort to provide the proper respects to Teish’s memory.  Was Teish a transgendered person who, indeed, identified the former himself as a herself, or did Teish identify as a gay man?  The answer to this question is only relevant for purposes of writing this article and adding yet another victim to the growing list of persons murdered because of their sexuality or gender identity.

I feel great sorrow for Teish’s family and friends, and I extend my most heartfelt sympathies.  The same sorrow I have felt for countless other victims of senseless crime.

Police are still investigating the murder in order to “decide” whether it is a Hate Crime.  Well, the glass slipper fits - wear it.

News coverage of Teish’s murder has been negligible; another slap in the face to a community already feeling the effects of hate after the passage of Proposition 8 in California.  The majority has taken our rights and our children and our brothers and sisters, yet we still stand strong.  We too shall overcome.

News 10 Now | 24 Hour Local News | ALL NEWS | Vigil held for possible hate crime victim.