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The gay community in Nebraska's capital—already involved in a contentious battle over Lincoln's recently approved anti-discrimination clause—have even more on their plate after a horrific anti-gay hate crime occurred on Sunday morning.
Officials in Lincoln are busy investigating what local media has deemed a hate crime as the city's LGBT community and its supporters hold vigil for a women who was tortured by three men over the weekend.
In what sounds like a twisted scene from a horror film, the men broke into the home of a 33-year old woman, tied her up, beat her and carved anti-gay slurs into her arm and abdomen. After leaving her bound and bloody on her floor, they unsuccessfully attempted to burn down her house and fled the scene. The victim then managed to get up and run to a neighbor's for help.
“My neighbor was standing there, and she had no clothes on,” Linda Rappl told Lincoln's NBC affiliate. “Her hands had been tied with zip ties, and the first thing I saw was blood running down her face.”
On Sunday night, 500 folks held vigil outside the state capitol in protest of the attack. Lincoln Mayor Chris Beutler also denounced the hate crime via a press release. “Hate crimes are despicable and appalling to me and to all Lincoln residents,” Beutler said. "Lincoln strives to be a community that embraces tolerance and equality. We stand united with our gay and lesbian citizens in denouncing violence directed at any group."
Police aren't releasing many details to maintain the case's integrity, but officials close to the investigation say that there are not yet any suspects.
(Source and image: MSNBC)
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