05/18/2007
South Carolina Gay Man Dies in Potential Hate Crime Assault
Sean William Kennedy, 20, was leaving Brew's Bar in Greenville County, South Carolina when a man leapt out of a car and punched him at least once, knocking him to the ground. Kennedy died almost 17 hours later, according to WYFF Greenville.
The suspect got back into his car following the assault, which Kennedy's friends believe was a hate crime. Kennedy was gay. Authorities are treating the case as a homicide, and exploring the possibility that he was attacked because of his sexuality.
WIS 10 Columbia says the bar was having a teen night.
Said Greenville County Sheriff's Lt. Shea Smith: "We've interviewed several witnesses in the parking lot when this occurred. We've talked to other people at the bar, and we have received tips and investigators are following up on that. The investigation continues, and we hope to make an arrest."
Posted 8:45 AM EST by Andy Towle in Crime, News, South Carolina | Permalink
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Rest in Peace Sean. Condolences to family and friends. May the person responsible be brought to justice quickly.
I'm here Becks. So sweet of you to be concerned but I do have a life and family outside of Towleroad. I’m not really sure why you worry so much about how often I post, since you have posted every bit as much as I have over the last couple of days. Still, it's flattering to know that I'm always on your mind.
Rather than sending me love notes here at Towleroad and bothering other people with your obsession with me and Leland, why don't you just send us your personal opinions about us in private emails. I'm sure everyone here would be grateful.
Posted by: Zeke | May 18, 2007 2:06:25 PM
Oh thank god. Now, I'm really worried about Leland...
Posted by: Becks07 | May 18, 2007 6:07:10 PM
Sean - I wish I had the chance to know you. You look like you would have been a lot of fun and a great friend. Even if you died from a horrible blow to the head, it shouldn't have happened. I'm sure many hated people have died from even less force - hate is hate. My condolences to your friends and family if they see this. Michael
Posted by: Michael Boh | May 19, 2007 10:25:32 PM
As usual, people who have no idea what South Carolina is REALLY like seize upon this opportunity to judge an entire state. Yes, it's a conservative state, but gay people can definitely find their niche here, which tends to be in the larger urban areas (G'ville, Charleston, Columbia, Myrtle Beach--I'd say Columbia is the most gay friendly out of the bunch).
My heart goes out to this guy's family.
Posted by: Kboi | May 20, 2007 6:55:40 PM
The sad part about this is that when one was around Sean he just made everything around him better. He had so life in him. And what a smile. It just breaks my heart to think what he could have been and now we will never know. But please keep his family in your thoughts because are trying now to fight for hate crime bill to be passed in SC.
Posted by: Scott | Jun 5, 2007 6:59:11 AM
we live in an over-"moralized" world where it is sometimes i think seen as some sick rite of passage to assualt gay men, it went on in days before martin luther king to black men too often, i wish i could say what it would take for it to stop...stiffer penalties, people seeing us gays as human beings and realizing how sick and weak such bullying cowards really are...
Posted by: bruce | Nov 20, 2007 6:22:18 PM
hi my name is renell and im doing a research paper in school for my english class. my topic is gay discrimination in south carolina i have to prove that it(gay diiscrimination) is a problem in south carolina. i also have to give
solutions on how to help decrease the issue.but ne ways i would love to interview someone that has been discriminated against and that lives in south carolina. so if anyone could possibly help me i would very much appreciate it.im in a bind and i need as much information proving that it is a problem.i need as much info as possible in a short amount of time. so if you dont mind me interveiwing you online privatley in email please email me at glossn09@yahoo.com
thanks so much it would be alot of help.
Posted by: renell | Nov 25, 2008 5:15:37 PM