Opinion :: Letters
Prison time for gay bashers won’t make us safer
Thursday Jun 11, 2009
Dear Bay Windows,
I am deeply saddened that the response and coverage of the Brandao case is so short sighted [See "Backlash to lenient sentence in gay bashing case," June 4]. Sentencing gay bashers to prison terms, short or long, will not make our communities safer. It is tragic and appalling that Brandao attacked queers on the street; I know how that fear feels. However, I also know that prison does not fix the problems of our society, rather it compounds violence and provides a misdirected sense of justice. Should we allow Brandao to now have access to incarcerated queers (as we are disproportionately impacted by incarceration) and release his violence on them? The comments made by Gary Briggs stating that if the attack had been against black people or women then the punishment would have been more harsh simply shows what a giant lack in understanding many people have of the criminal (in)justice system. The judicial system is certainly homophobic but do not forget that it is also inherently racist and sexist. Let us please use this time to figure out what real justice looks like rather than turn to a system that breeds violence and harms us. Protest the judge’s decision but protest the whole system and stop calling for prison time!
Jason Lydon
Boston
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