Standing Watch

On August 13, 2009, a 15 year old male was assaulted by two other teen males in Portage, MI. The two attackers hit the victim in the head about 20 times, fracturing several facial bones. During the attack, the two repeatedly shouted anti-gay slurs at the victim, who is homosexual. Both attackers were charged with aggravated assault, the most serious crime they could be charged with under Michigan law.

Michigan law has no hate crime protections for LGBT persons. As such, police were restricted to charging for the actual crime committed, and not permitted to charge the attackers for why they committed their crime. Michigan law only protects against hate crimes committed based on race, religion, gender, or national origin.

One attacker, age 16, has pleaded guilty. The other, age 15, has not yet appeared before the court.

The assault sparked outrage in Portage and amongst LGBT organizations across the state, who are demanding that hate crime statutes be revised to include crimes committed against persons based upon perceived or actual sexual preference.

The teen victim survived his injuries, and has spoken openly with both police officials and the media about the attack.

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