Media Trail
© 2008 Philadelphia Gay News

Commissioner loses reelection campaign

TulsaWorld.com reports that Oklahoma County Commissioner Brent Rinehart, who used an antigay comic book in his reelection campaign, was defeated July 29.

Rinehart came under fire when, as part of his campaign, he mailed a book he authored that made fun of gays and criticized his political opponents. The book featured an angel who supports Rinehart and Satan who supports his critics. It also included a gay man in a toga chasing a Boy Scout.

Oklahoma County Sheriff John Whetsel, one of the targets in Rinehart’s book, called the campaign piece “extremely pathetic and very bigoted.”

Despite the criticism, Rinehart defended his comic book, saying, “Even though the way the message was delivered might not have been accepted ... it doesn’t mean the information wasn’t true.”

Violence against gays on the rise

365Gay.com reports the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs said the number of violent crimes against LGBT people is up significantly in 2008.

The organization added that the reported crimes only may be a small number of the total, since many LGBT people are reluctant to go to police, and many of the attacks that are reported are not listed by authorities as hate crimes.

The NCAVP said the growing hate crimes indicate a frightening trend of increases in both the number and severity of anti-LGBT violence.

Many of the incidents occurred in late June and July, when LGBT visibility is high during gay pride celebrations.

Man arrested for Pride attacks

CBC Canada reports a Vancouver man is in police custody following a series of violent attacks in the midst of otherwise peaceful gay pride celebrations in Vancouver Aug. 3.

Police said the 31-year-old man was wearing a black wig and black glasses and was carrying a hammer and a handgun. He allegedly began attacking people in nearby restaurants and bars with a hammer.

Nine people were taken to the hospital with injuries, none of which were life-threatening.

Vancouver Police Constable Jana McGuinness said the attack does not appear to be the result of a hate crime and that the man in custody has a history of mental illness.

— Larry Nichols