Tuesday, July 24, 2012

IPN Staff Respond to Hate Crime in Lincoln, NE



This past Sunday, a vigil was organized in Lincoln, NE for a woman who was assaulted during a hate-motivated attack. Hundreds attended. Reports state that three men entered her home, bound her wrists and ankles, and carved homophobic words onto her body. They then doused the room with gasoline and set it on fire. The woman was able to escape and found her way to a neighbor’s house, naked and bleeding.

While we have seen a dramatic shift in the public consciousness regarding lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people and their rights during these past few years, this is a harsh reminder of the hate that still exists. These crimes, fueled by hate and bias, send a message to the LGBT community and remind us of the work that is yet to be done.

From physical violence to anti-gay slurs shouted in schools, these actions are an assault on the entire LGBT community. As more details about the attack are released, we hope that this knowledge will inspire Iowans to create schools and communities that are truly supportive of LGBT people and families.

We are shocked and saddened by the account of such extreme violence and we can only hope that this woman’s physical and emotional wounds heal quickly. Our thoughts and prayers are with this woman and her family.

Ryan Roemerman, Executive Director
Dana Stuehling, Outreach Coordinator