Dharun Ravi's conviction
Friday might best be described as a limited victory for the nation's
gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered community, say activists who
fight on that community's behalf.
Many seemed to have held their breath, fearful that the New Brunswick, N.J., jury would not see the case in the same way they did. Instead, the jury convicted the Rutgers University student of all charges, including hate crimes, related to his decision to spy on gay roommate Tyler Clementi, who later committed suicide.
But activists who talked to The Times on Friday stopped well short of labeling the verdict as any kind of watershed moment.
Despite the heavy media attention surrounding Clementi's death and the subsequent legal case, 87% of the nation's college campuses still fail to include sexual orientation in policies barring discrimination, said Matt Comer of Campus Pride, which was also speaking on behalf of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Discrimination.
"Most people have this assumption that colleges are relatively safe places for lgbt students," he said. "That is not the case."
There's little time to savor the verdict when so much work remains to be done, Comer said. "Our focus is on all the other lgbt college students who across the country will continue to face daily harassment and abuse at the hands of their peers at their campuses."
Comer's reaction was echoed throughout the lgbt community. While many activists expressed gratitude to the jurors, they said Friday's verdict cannot be read as a turning point, or a sign that perhaps the nation is inching closer to acceptance of gays and lesbians.
Most of all, activists spoke of their sadness at an incident that has destroyed the lives of two promising young men and devastated their families.
"'Elation' is not a word that I can use here. There's nothing to be happy about," said Hayley Gorenberg, deputy legal director at Lambda Legal.
"It’s a double tragedy," said Rick Rosendall, vice president for political affairs of the Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance of Washington, D.C. "It's just awful."
Clementi was 18 when he threw himself off the George Washington Bridge in New York City. He had not been living openly as a gay man when he learned that Ravi had set up a secret webcam to capture him with having sex.
Ravi, 20, faces 10 years in prison. Although he is in the United States legally, his conviction on such serious charges could result in his deportation back to his native India.
Steven Goldstein, chairman and chief executive of Garden State Equality, a New Jersey-based organization dedicated to lgbt rights, said he does see a glimmer of hope in the jury's decision.
"We do believe this verdict sends the important message that a 'kids will be kids' defense is no excuse to bully another student," he said in a statement. "As for all of us, we must continue our focus on building a better world, one free of bullying of every student, so that a tragedy like this never happens again
Many seemed to have held their breath, fearful that the New Brunswick, N.J., jury would not see the case in the same way they did. Instead, the jury convicted the Rutgers University student of all charges, including hate crimes, related to his decision to spy on gay roommate Tyler Clementi, who later committed suicide.
But activists who talked to The Times on Friday stopped well short of labeling the verdict as any kind of watershed moment.
Despite the heavy media attention surrounding Clementi's death and the subsequent legal case, 87% of the nation's college campuses still fail to include sexual orientation in policies barring discrimination, said Matt Comer of Campus Pride, which was also speaking on behalf of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Discrimination.
"Most people have this assumption that colleges are relatively safe places for lgbt students," he said. "That is not the case."
There's little time to savor the verdict when so much work remains to be done, Comer said. "Our focus is on all the other lgbt college students who across the country will continue to face daily harassment and abuse at the hands of their peers at their campuses."
Comer's reaction was echoed throughout the lgbt community. While many activists expressed gratitude to the jurors, they said Friday's verdict cannot be read as a turning point, or a sign that perhaps the nation is inching closer to acceptance of gays and lesbians.
Most of all, activists spoke of their sadness at an incident that has destroyed the lives of two promising young men and devastated their families.
"'Elation' is not a word that I can use here. There's nothing to be happy about," said Hayley Gorenberg, deputy legal director at Lambda Legal.
"It’s a double tragedy," said Rick Rosendall, vice president for political affairs of the Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance of Washington, D.C. "It's just awful."
Clementi was 18 when he threw himself off the George Washington Bridge in New York City. He had not been living openly as a gay man when he learned that Ravi had set up a secret webcam to capture him with having sex.
Ravi, 20, faces 10 years in prison. Although he is in the United States legally, his conviction on such serious charges could result in his deportation back to his native India.
Steven Goldstein, chairman and chief executive of Garden State Equality, a New Jersey-based organization dedicated to lgbt rights, said he does see a glimmer of hope in the jury's decision.
"We do believe this verdict sends the important message that a 'kids will be kids' defense is no excuse to bully another student," he said in a statement. "As for all of us, we must continue our focus on building a better world, one free of bullying of every student, so that a tragedy like this never happens again
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