Prop 8 Propels Hate Crimes

Anti-gay incidents in hate crime reports jumped from 15 percent in 2007 to 56 percent in 2008. The reason: more fall out from Prop 8.

Deputy district attorney for Santa Clara County, Jay Boyarsky, told the Mercury News, “my belief from having done this work for many years is that surges in types of hate incidents are linked to the headlines and controversies of the day… Marriage equality and Proposition 8 have been in the news, and we have seen an increase in gay-bashing."

Those tied to the ‘yes on Prop 8’ campaign are quick to return the finger pointing. Frank Schubert, of the Protect Marriage organization argued, "I certainly hope Proposition 8 did not result in more crime. But if it did, it did so on both sides."