Justice

You would think that since the change in administration, gay and lesbian people would be feeling safer, more hopeful. It's a mixed bag - one the one hand, there's Iowa. On the other hand, there's California. There is the ironic continuing discharge of military heroes under "don't ask - don't tell" while we are fighting two wars, and then there's this from the Saint Paul Pioneer Press:

A St. Croix County jury convicted a Hudson man of hate crimes in an attack on a woman who fended off his advances this past November telling him she was a lesbian.

Dustan Warren, 27, was found guilty this afternoon of attempted second-degree sexual assault, aggravated battery, second-degree reckless endangerment, false imprisonment and misdemeanor bail jumping.

The St. Croix County district attorney's office had added a hate-crime modifier to the charges, stating that the Hudson man "intentionally selected the person against whom the crime was committed in whole or in part because of the defendant's belief or perception regarding the sexual orientation of that person."

The most serious charge, attempted second-degree sexual assault, carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. The hate-crime modifier can add another 5 years onto his sentence.

Warren's bond was revoked and he was held for sentencing.

The 35-year-old woman testified in December that Warren punched her in the face, pinned her to the floor and threatened to rape and kill her after making obscene comments about her sexual orientation.