Oddly, the Provincetown police are insisting that all these assaults are being investigated as potential “hate incidents” rather than “hate crimes.” The legal distinction, simply, is that a hate incident of “bigotry, bias, animus, or prejudice” becomes a hate crime under Massachusetts law when it involves an underlying criminal act, such as assault or battery.
Last we checked, throwing rocks at people, hitting them with bicycles, and bashing them on the head are criminal acts. If Provincetown authorities think otherwise, that calls into question the town’s claim that there have been no hate crimes there since 2004. They should be more concerned with the truth than with maintaining their spotless statistics.
Town officials and District Attorney O’Keefe need to take the threat of hate crimes and the training of summer police far more seriously if they expect people to return to the Cape’s most vibrant community next summer.
Related:
By any other name, Free at last, Unchecked power and secrecy — not gays — are the church’s problem, More 
- By any other name
From being physically harassed in my middle-class catholic high school in the mid 1960s to being assaulted in boston’s outdoor cruising areas, i’ve seen a lot of anti-gay violence up close.
- Free at last
Bernard Baran was released from prison on June 30, and is now free on bail awaiting a new trial. The Baran interview: an extended transcript of Michael Bronski and Catherine Tumber's conversation with Bernard Baran.
- Unchecked power and secrecy — not gays — are the church’s problem
Presenting more evidence that it just doesn't get it, the Vatican recently issued new so-called, "psychological screening guidelines" to weed out priest candidates with "psychopathic disorders," but only those related to sexual misconduct — specifically homosexuality.
- The Baran interview
- The conspiracist
“Assassination-conspiracy theorist” is a relatively recent addition to Paul Kuntzler’s résumé. Watch Paul Kuntzler on the JFK assassination
- Death by handgun
A couple of weeks ago, David S. Bernstein wrote about the growing "state sovereignty" movement backed by anti-government conspiracy theorists and gun-rights extremists, and touted on the syndicated radio show and Web site of deranged agitator Alex Jones.
- Gay meant guilty
On April 8, 1981, Wayne Healy, a 29-year-old gay man, was convicted of brutally murdering his former brother-in-law during a sexual encounter.
- A paper burns
This article originally appeared in the July 13, 1982 issue of the Boston Phoenix.
- Moldy justice
A California law prohibits a woman from driving while wearing a house coat.
- Next stop: marriage
If we had asked the leadership at Equality Maine about their plan for gay marriage say, two years ago, they would have likely said, “If we told you, we’d have to kill you.”
- And proud of it
Boston's Pride Week is here, it's queer, and we're getting used to it.
- Less
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