The Log Cabin Republicans are holding their annual convention at the Hilton Anatole Hotel in Dallas this weekend and one of its members was involved in an altercation at a bar inside the hotel early yesterday morning. The Dallas Voice has the story on the assault in which the attacker used an anti-gay slur:
“Two groups of intoxicated individuals got into a verbal argument,” (Sr. Cpl. Kevin) Janse (of the Dallas PD) said in an e-mail Saturday afternoon. “Supposedly the victim and his friend were whistling at the suspect, who took offense and shoved the victim. Officers interviewed both parties and made a class-C assault. Which is not a jailable offense if the two parties can be separated, which they were. Detectives are interviewing all parties as we speak but there is no indication of a hate crime based on what both parties are telling detectives. Just two drunk people.”
Asked to confirm rumors that the suspect used the word “faggot,” Janse said: “Yes. that word was used, but it was provoked.” Asked whether he meant that the word was provoked by the whistling, he said: “Yes. And comments about them ‘looking good.’”
Laura Martin, the police department’s LGBT liaison officer, said detectives were conducting follow-up interviews today with the suspect, the victim and witnesses. She added that the use of the word “faggot” doesn’t automatically make the incident a hate crime.
“The crime has to be motivated, has to start, because of the suspect’s bias,” Martin said. “‘In and of itself, calling a name during a fight doesn’t necessarily indicate that it was motivated by bias.”
Names of those involved in the incident, including that of the Log Cabin Republican member, are being withheld at this time.
The convention ends today and so far has included such speakers as Republicans Roy Ashburn and Fred Karger.
Update: It appears as if all charges will now be dropped.
