Gay University Professor Possible Victim of Hate Crime

Just days after a University of Montana professor filed a lawsuit alleging that the university health insurance system discriminated against gays and lesbians by withholding health insurance and other benefits from same-sex partners of employees, her home was set on fire. Carla Grayson, her partner Adrianne Neff, and their 22 month-old son escaped through a window and were physically unhurt. The Missoula police are investigating the fire as an arson and attempted triple homicide but not as a hate crime. Despite the fact that the Federal Bureau of Investigation reported in 1999 that at least 17% of hate crimes were motivated by sexual orientation, Montana’s hate crime statute does not include sexual orientation and gender-bias crimes.

Media Resources: Chronicle of Higher Education, 2/13/02; National Organization for Women Press Release, 2/13/02; Federal Bureau of Investigation.

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