Source
r/askgaybros•
6James

Hey, AskGayBros, want to do a good deed?

Disclaimer: I don't know these people; I just read about this in the news.

Two young gay men in Atlanta, Georgia were attacked by the boyfriend of one of the men's mother, who poured boiling water over them as they slept, because they're gay. They suffered third-degree burns requiring extensive hospitalization, surgery, and a years-long recovery period.

If you want to help with their medical bills there's a GoFundMe page at https://www.gofundme.com/hrrpb9e4

Posted Mar 17, 2016, 6:29 PM UTC

8027
laffyhalfie•

What's also disastrous is that we live in a country where when you're the victim of a violent and horrific hate crime (or any serious medical issue), the healthcare system punishes you. I guess the cost of having boiling hot water poured on you is $30k. Shoutout to the generous people who've contributed up to $20k though. I don't have much to give, but I have a little bit.

39
NovaNardis•

They can and should sue his mother.

9
The_Ninja_Nero•

The mother's boyfriend, but yes, they can sue him for the cost of medical treatment at least if not more.

8
jpw5x4•

Something tells me they won't get much money out of that guy.

14
[deleted]•

I read about this today. Thanks for posting the link.

28
_Ass_Blaster_69•

Now of all the discrimination faced by people on a daily basis, this has got be one of the worst types, being an actual physical assault. Burning someone significantly can lead to death. Perhaps the mother's boyfriend should face attempted murder charges as well as aggravated battery.

17
SmarmySalamander•

Also, in their state LGBT people can't legally count for hate crimes... Good grief.

17
yallcat•

It's still a crime to pour boiling water on people, you know.

18
Hoodie-Whether•

In Georgia there are no such thing as hate crimes at all, according to the article.

5
jpw5x4•

It's a federal crime, and the US Attorney in Atlanta is able to file charges in federal court if he chooses.

6
_Ass_Blaster_69•

I don't necessarily believe in labeling hate crimes per se because any crime of abuse or assault leading to injury or death is inherently by nature a hate crime. When states label hate crimes, it is for more judicial purposes than social reasons. Its philosophy is to provide judges more alternatives in sentencing options rather than establishing guilt or the process thereof. As such, the mother's boyfriend will still have a significant penalty if found guilty based on the nature of the crime whether it is labeled a hate crime or not. I say if found guilty only to respect the presumption of innocence until found guilty in our judicial system. Of course I think, based on the information provided, he is guilty as fuck.

-4†
chriswasmyboy•

If not for the hate of gays by the perpetrator, there would have been no crime committed here, therefore we need hate crime laws. Had it been a heterosexual couple, nothing would have happened.

6
postlaureate•

So you don't think the intent behind a crime should affect the sentencing of the criminal? Or you just want to limit judges options because... you don't trust them? Or you just have a very pedantic approach to law?

5
wellitsbouttime•

the thought is not the crime. the crime is defined by the action. Should the punishment be LESS if he dumped boiling water on a man and woman?

Well you're saying that it should, bc you're asking for more punishment bc the action was directed at two gay guys.

-2
_Ass_Blaster_69•

I think some of you have missed my point. A felony crime is a felony crime. It really should make no difference for the reasons behind it. Assault is assault and murder is murder. They are both in and of themselves inherently caused by hate. Would you assault someone if you didn't hate them? Would you murder someone if there wasn't some form of hatred? Clearly hate is implicit in both these felony crimes and sentences appropriate for each should be and are applied as allowed by the fullest extent of the law. The tools for sentencing currently exist. From a human rights standpoint to be applied equally under the law, the idea of hate should not receive special status since it is already implied.

There's another implication too. Say for instance you have two victims of a felony crime. One is gay, the other is straight. They are both assaulted and have suffered equal injuries. The assault on the gay person is deemed a hate crime while the assault on the straight is not. At sentencing, the hate crime assailant is given 10 years while the non-hate crime assailant is given 6 years. Remember, both crimes are equal. Is this fair to the victim of the straight crime? Does that person feel or see that justice has been served. Now I'm not saying the hate crime felon should get less time but don't you think that given both crimes are really crimes of hate that the sentencing should at least be a more equal serving?

1
postlaureate•

You're hung up on the definition of hate versus that of a "hate crime". A hate crime is one that targets a person specifically because of who they are, ethnicity, race, orientation, gender, etc. When someone targets and, say, assaults, a person because of that, it intimidates that community and spreads fear amongst them. It's a crime that can be used as a way to keep entire groups of people down. We as a society decided that makes it a worse crime, and should be judged appropriately. In your overly simple example, the two crimes are not equivalent. The affects on society are different. In fact your example, apparently unknown to you, straight up says they aren't equal because the straight person's assault wasn't "deemed a hate crime". Maybe that one was a money dispute, who knows, you didn't make that part up.

I mentioned this in my other reply to you, but do you understand the difference between degrees of murder? Why they're labeled different crimes? Why a court would want to differentiate between them? Intent is also the difference between manslaughter and murder.

I'm kind of surprised by your attitude that the criminal's sentencing is a recompense to the victim, but I suppose a lot of people see it that way.

1
thegaylydepressed•

:( reminds me of Uganda's documentary. Beaten, abused, tortured. For what? For loving the one their heart desired.

12
GayScottishGeek96•

Saw this on Gaily Grind on the bus home yesterday evening. Made me so fucking angry. No-one deserves to be hurt this badly just for loving the one their heart desired. Hope the sick fuck that did this gets done for attempted murder.

I sincerely wish I could contribute even a little bit of money to help pay for their medical bills (I can't), but I will keep them in my thoughts tonight and will pray for their recovery (both physical and mental) to be as quick and painless as it possibly can be.

Stay strong guys xxx

6
d3pd•

ProTip: When selecting your attacker/attempted murderer, just make sure he's rich! $$$ :D $$$

Fuck the U.S.A.

2
[deleted]•

[deleted]

0
rogerrr18•

When I read the initial article yesterday it appeared they have a separate page for each of them.

2
yoolanda•

No thanks.

-33