July 18, 2007 News+Opinion » D. A. Smith

Recent hate crime reopens need for legislation 

One Mother's Eyes: Sean Kennedy's mom makes a plea for justice

by D. A. Smith
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Last week, I took a stroll down to the July meeting of the friendly folks of the Alliance For Full Acceptance to see what they've been doing on their summer vacation.

The feature of the evening was a panel discussion of the proposed hate crimes bills for the next session of the General Assembly and included Brett Bursey of the S.C. Progressive Network, Sen. Robert Ford (D-Chas.), S.C. Rep. Seth Whipper (D.-Chas), and Elke Kennedy of Greenville.

Elke Kennedy is the mother of Sean Kennedy, the 20-year-old gay man who was punched in the face and killed by 18-year-old Stephen Moller outside a Greenville bar following a teen night promotion in late May of this year.

Moller allegedly verbally assaulted Kennedy with anti-gay slurs before approaching him from the rear in the parking lot and sucker-punching Kennedy, causing him to fall and suffer a fatal brain injury.

When it was Ms. Kennedy's turn to speak, she told the assembled that there were 40-50 of her son's friends waiting with her and her family in the emergency room.

Ms. Kennedy told about one of Sean's friends receiving a message from Moller, who allegedly said, "You tell your faggot friend that when he wakes up, he owes me $500 for my broken hand."

Nice.

Moller has had two bond hearings to date and has been denied both times. He spends his time cooling his heels in the Greenville County Jail awaiting a yet-to-be scheduled trial date.

Ms. Kennedy is concerned Moller will be offered a plea bargain for a lesser charge. "What worries me is that my son's killer could serve no jail time and that terrifies me."

She continued, "We just have to keep what happened to my son in the public eye."

Indeed.

Rep. Seth Whipper and Sen. Robert Ford have introduced hate-crimes bills (H. 3738 and S. 440) into their respective chambers of the General Assembly for the next term.

Both bills would provide for penalty enhancement (between $2,000 and $10,000 and two and 15 years imprisonment) for assaults on the person or property of a person who was targeted because of race, creed, gender, age, national origin, color, and sexual orientation.

Now, there's a lot of people out there who don't see the need for hate crimes legislation because South Carolina has a storied past as a "hangin' state."

Brett Bursey drew a parallel between the proposed hate crime bills and the brand-new discrimination incorporated into the state Constitution with the anti-gay marriage amendment referendum of the last election.

"We've got plenty of hypocrisy in South Carolina," he said. "We can afford to give some of it away. Dr. King said that there can't be different gradients of equality and we need to go on record to say that just because someone is different doesn't mean they have to be discriminated against."

Prior to jetting out to D.C. to meet his candidate ("Sista' Hillary Clinton — she's gonna win y'all!") Ford commented, "I've worked in civil rights all my life, and I thought everybody had them until Linda Ketner showed me that gay people didn't. Now my job is to simply get it done. This is the most powerful country in the world, and we need to do everything to get all the states on board and give basic Americanisms to everyone."

This is essentially a story about loss, both to families and communities, and how unnecessary and preventable these kinds of losses are.

When Sean Kennedy and Stephen Moller encountered each other that night in late May, we were all diminished as citizens and as people because we failed to set a better example for both boys.

We can do better.

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I sure am glad that heyjudi bitch is gone.

Posted by Mr Garrison on July 30, 2007 at 3:55 PM | Report this comment

Now you're just the pot calling the kettle black. The LGBT community doesn't need your patronizing attitude. Furthermore, my statement about the church was accurate inasmuch that the church does not accept anything or anyone that falls outside of their doctrine. That leaves very limited access toward respecting and understanding other cultures/religions/ideas. Don't forget, the Pope himself recently decreed that if you don't follow the "one true faith" (ie- Catholic), that you are following a false religion and will be denied access to the Pearly Gates. Religions that don't have an open and tolerant viewpoint toward those with differing opinions and lifestyles are one main reason for the many wars this world has witnessed and millions if not billions of lives lost over the millenia. Your statement about most Christians being worldly and educated is pure speculation. It doesn't merit further discussion, especially as it harkens back to the pot and kettle business. Remember, Mr. Southernman, that morals vary according to culture. Right and wrong, for the most part, are regulated according to the cultural concepts of society. These concepts change and expand over time as people become more educated and as needs change. There were no witches at Salem, the Earth is not flat and the sun doens't revolve around it, African Americans aren't deficient human beings, women aren't too attle brained to choose for whom they will vote, and the LGBT community isn't a band of deviants out to demand special privilege or molest your children. Now, rather than reflect your own patronizing attitude and sense of moral superiority, I will simply sign off. Don't bother to respond as I am through with this discussion and won't be back to view this blog again. I believe we have each said everything we can possibly say without beating a dead horse. Good night and God bless.

Posted by HeyJudi on July 27, 2007 at 11:00 PM | Report this comment

Hey Judi, Let's see. "I was once affiliated with that church too, but once I became more worldly and better educated I realized that the laws of that church were too narrow to embrace the idea of a diverse human culture." That is insulting and self centered. Kind of implies that you are smarter than than those that believe in the church. Some of the most educated people in the world are Christians, and those same people are very worldly. You are very insulting . If you read my previous blogs I don't recall attacking gays/lesbians personally. I stated to Mr Zoloft why I thoght homosexuals don't have "equal rights" and why I don't think they ever will. Mr Zoloft seem to take it very personally I can think outside the box, gay/lesbian and their avid supporters tdon't seem to be able to discuss the issue without getting offended. Try discussing the issue without the jugular vein attitude. I like a good debate, but it doesn't help your cause.

Posted by southernman on July 27, 2007 at 9:54 PM | Report this comment

Southernman, the only person doing any attacking here is YOU. I am merely debating things as well. I didn't say those religions were wrong, I just said that they are not the creed of all humans on this earth. Once again, you evade my point, which is that what's good for the majority isn't always good for everyone. Furthermore, you may be surprised to learn that my "lifestyle" is Suburban Heterosexual Mother/Housewife (married for 16 years)/Anthropology student. So don't accuse ME of not seeing outside the box. I may live in the box but I'm not afraid to step outside of it and embrace the rest of the world. Southernman, I'm not attacking you or anyone. In fact, I respect alternative ideas/theories/religions of most types. All I'm suggesting is that it is time for people to stop trying to fit everyone else into their own mold. Humanity's diversities should be celebrated, not suffocated.

Posted by HeyJudi on July 27, 2007 at 7:48 PM | Report this comment

Hey Judi, So the overwhelming majority of the world, and it's religions are wrong and you are right. Prehaps another pill is in order for you. Ninety-nine percent of the Christian religions are wrong, All the legitimate Jews sects and Muslim faiths are all wrong......right.... You finally realized what I have been trying to tell you, you have a very long struggle. A word of advise, quit attacking everyone who questions your lifestyle. Luckily I like a good debate, and will still humor you.

Posted by southernman on July 27, 2007 at 7:32 PM | Report this comment

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