M E D I A   R E L E A S E For Immediate Release June 11, 2003 Ex-Morehouse College Student Convicted in Anti-Gay Hate Crime Case Was First Trial Under Georgia's New Hate Crimes Law Atlanta – Atlanta - A former college student was convicted today in the beating of a dorm mate he thought was making sexual advances towards him. Aaron Price, 19, was found guilty of assault and battery charges that carry up to 40 years prison. The jury continued to weigh a hate crimes charge that could bring an additional five years. Gregory Love suffered a fractured skull in the attack in a Morehouse College dormitory bathroom in November after Price beat him with a baseball bat. Price said he interpreted stares into a shower stall from Love as sexual advances, and claimed he was acting in self-defense when he left the bathroom and returned to assault Love with the bat. Love said he did not have his glasses on and mistook Price for his roommate. The beating evoked strong emotions at Morehouse and charges of persistent and widespread campus homophobia were leveled by students, alumni and community members. Ultimately, action from students and leaders of Atlanta's gay and lesbian community in the wake of the incident prompted administrators to set up discussion sessions promoting diversity. "This case was emblematic not just of anti-gay hate at Morehouse, or other historically black colleges and universities, but of anti-gay hate on campuses in general across the country," said Clarence Patton, Acting Executive Director of the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (NCAVP). "In 2002 alone, we saw an 8% increase in victims of anti-lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender crimes who were between the ages of 18 and 22, and a 164% increase in the number of reports from victims under the age of 18; many of these incidents occurred on campuses and at schools; there was a 118% increase in the number of reports we received of incidents occurring in an academic setting," continued Patton. "Unfortunately, this trend will continue and more young people will be at risk for homophobic violence and in danger of spending their youth in prison if colleges and universities do not proactively address the epidemic of hate on their campuses." The National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (NCAVP) addresses the pervasive problem of violence committed against and within the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) and HIV-positive communities. NCAVP is a coalition of programs that document and advocate for victims of anti-LGBT and anti-HIV/AIDS violence/harassment, domestic violence, sexual assault, police misconduct and other forms of victimization. NCAVP is dedicated to creating a national response to the violence plaguing these communities. Further, NCAVP supports existing anti-violence organizations and emerging local programs in their efforts to document and prevent such violence. NCAVP's 2002 Report on Hate Violence can be read and downloaded at: www.avp.org