Hate Crimes Impacting Teens
Two apparent hate crimes this month in Colorado Springs could be having an impact on teens that are struggling with their sexuality.
Just last weekend two homeless men were stabbed and they told police they were attacked because they are gay. Earlier this month, a group that included two gay Fort Carson soldiers was attacked and beaten. The soldiers told NEWSCHANNEL 13 they were targeted because of their sexual orientation.
?These types of crimes send a brutal message to young people who are already undergoing a lot of stress and harassment and at times, plain out assaults,? said Shawna Kemppainen. ?Just because of their sexual orientation.?
Kemppainen is the Executive Director at Inside Out Youth Services, a place where lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and questioning youth can get support and express their feelings.
?Of the kids who come here right now, we just completed a survey not too long ago,? said Kemppainen. ?One in four of them have been physically assaulted at some point.?
Kemppainen said these types of crimes occur more often than many people think, and often go unreported.
She said hearing about homosexuals being attacked in their own community makes teens fear what could happen to them. It?s hard for their parents to hear as well.
?It?s a really hurtful thing to have to think they’re going to send their kid out into the world into an unsafe place,? said Kemppainen.
The apparent hate crimes took place just as the new developments with Don?t Ask Don?t Tell were announced.
?While Don’t Ask Don’t Tell has been lifted that’s still a signature on a piece of paper,? said Kemppainen.
The Fort Carson soldiers who were beaten told their story to NEWSCHANNEL 13, while asking to remain anonymous.
?What’s really going to happen to those active duty soldiers and what could potentially still happen to their careers is a very, very real a very real issue for them to think about.?
In the meantime, Kemppainen said that education is an important part of progress.
?We?re extremely excited to see that don?t ask don?t tell is going to come to an end,? said Kemppainen. ?It?s part of a huge slate of progress that?s being made.?
No one has been arrested in the soldier beatings. In the case of the two men stabbed last weekend, two men were arrested and are set to appear in court Monday.
