There is a case airing on Court TV(or it's new name) near and dear to the GLBT community now.

[jhrobbins]

It is the case of the murder of Ryan Skipper. Below is the Wikipedia blurb;

Ryan Keith Skipper (April 28, 1981 - March 14, 2007) was a 25-year old gay man from Polk County, Florida who was murdered on Wednesday, March 14, 2007 in what authorities called a hate crime. Two men have been arrested in connection with the crime: William David Brown Jr. (20 years old at the time of the incident), and Joseph Bearden, 21. Brown has claimed that he killed Skipper in retaliation for unwanted sexual advances <1>. The men have been charged with first-degree murder and robbery.<2> Skipper's body was discovered on March 15 by a roadside in Wahneta, Florida.


THe evidence in this case make it clear that it was a hate crime - he was stabbed 27 times and his eye socket crushed - his car was driven to Lake PANSY and trashed (even though one of the supposed reasons for the crime was to sell the car)

I am posting this for several reasons today, but the one that has me the most upset is the statement from William David Brown is that he was "retaliating against an unwanted sexual advance". If lawyers were able to use this as a valid tact in trials where the defendant was a straight woman who had killed a straight man for 'unwanted sexual advances' case law would grind to a halt and no woman would go to jail again for murder. What woman hasn't had to endure unwanted sexual advances from men. I find this tactic extremely insulting, disgusting and it pisses me off that judges allow it.

[closeupready]

1. If they plead guilty and agree to get their eye sockets crushed,

fine, give them parole.

[Not Me]

2. You make a point that I have advocated for some time

That is, considering how many women have had to fend off unwanted advances from men...without beatting the man to a pulp.
(Or shooting/stabbing/poisoning or otherwise killing the man.)
I am not sure that in Ryan Skipper's case there even was an advance, but I could blow all kinds of holes in that defense...yet down here in the South, it seems to be accepted.

[Brazenly Liberal]

3. Hmph! If that was an acceptable defense for straight women,

there would be NO STRAIGHT MEN LEFT. We could kill them all off with impunity.

(While there are moments, oh yes indeed there are moments, I generally think that's a bad idea.)