M E D I A   R E L E A S E


For Immediate Release

November 19, 2001

SENTENCING EXPECTED IN FIRST QUEENS COUNTY ANTI-GAY HATE CRIMES PROSECUTION UNDER NEW LAW

New York - In the first anti-gay hate crime conviction in Queens under the recently enacted New York State Hate Crimes Law, a 20 year-old Long Island man has been found guilty and convicted. The defendant, Francisco Fasaro was convicted following a non-jury trial of Assault in the Third Degree.

In December of last year, the defendant allegedly passed his victim on a street corner and shouted anti-gay remarks. This was followed with more anti-gay slurs before the defendant shoved and hit the victim in the face.

Fasaro faces a prison term of up to four years when he is sentenced on December 12.

"We applaud the fact that the Queens County District Attorney's Office utilized the State's Hate Crimes Law in this case. We are monitoring all five of the city's District Attorneys' Offices to see what application of the law will look like here in New York City," said Richard Haymes, executive director of AVP.

AVP fought for over a decade the State's Hate Crimes Law, which took effect in October of last year. The law enhances the penalties on crimes where a victim is attacked based on race, color, national origin, ancestry gender, religion, age, disability or sexual orientation.

"We have come along way from the days when we could expect as a matter of course that hate-motivated violence against the City's lesbian, gay, transgender and bisexual community would not even be investigated, let alone prosecuted," said Basil Lucas, Bias Crime Advocate at AVP.

"While we are pleased that prosecutors are now taking incidents against our community seriously, we are saddened as well. This case clearly illustrates the tragedy of hate-motivated violence for both victim and perpetrator. A young man, who should have been educated to accept diversity and understand its importance to our society, instead opted for violent intolerance. In addition to the enhanced penalties mandated by the hate crimes law, we think it's necessary for the State to support programs and services that educate and train the public -- especially our young people -- around issues of diversity and tolerance to ultimately get at the source of hate-motivated violence and decrease the number of young people who feel free to express hatred through violence," Haymes concluded.