Dave Sagarin interview with Meredith Richards

You have advocated the addition of 'Sexual Orientation' to the classes of people protected by the Virginia Hate Crimes statutes?

It became an issue when it was proposed by Virginians for Justice [a gay and lesbian rights advocacy group]. This was around the time of the notorious assault in Charlottesville, where Mr. Kittredge had been beaten and locked in a car trunk ... people seemed to be singling out gay folks because of who and what they were.

The Charlottesville City Council passed a resolution favoring [the change to the state law] - when it was being considered, I gave a speech [supporting extending the law] on the theme that 'equality begins at home.'

... Motive has always been an integral part of criminal law - even in establishing guilt . The psychological state of the perpetrator comes into [charging and sentencing].

I'm not a legal scholar, but the unfairness of singling people out for who they are is inherently offensive to me. Assaulting someone because of their membership in some category, or members of a group who feel they have a right to single people out …

I think you want government and government actions to speak to what society as a whole sees as wrong; to serve to some extent as a moral adjudicator. (May 20, 2002)