Outsports Discussion Board > Another New Profiling? Michigan Police Arrest Several Men in Restrooms

Full Version: Another New Profiling? Michigan Police Arrest Several Men in Restrooms

Outsports Discussion Board > Outsports > Politics & Religion

MIB

Jun 21 2004, 01:45 PM

Well, what else is there to do in Michigan?

Remember the ole advertising slogan: "Yes Michigan, the feeling's forever...".

Apparently so:

QUOTE

Police who responded to citizen complaints about being accosted and propositioned in a public restroom in Michigan with a sting that led to the arrest of a dozen men for criminal sexual conduct are being accused of \"sexual profiling\" and homophobia, reports the State News.

The Michigan State Police posted undercover officers in a public restroom on northbound U.S. 127 near Holt following complaints that \"people were doing gross things\" in the bathroom.

But gay activists said the timing of the sting, immediately preceding Pride Weekend, smacked of homophobia. Sean Kosofsky of the Triangle Foundation called the operation a deliberate attack against homosexuals.

\"It is illegal profiling behavior and an attempt to fabricate a problem,\" he said. \"It's like, if you're gay and using a rest area, you are there for sex.\"

[ June 21, 2004, 01:50 PM: Message edited by: MIB ]

danimal

Jun 21 2004, 05:39 PM

I don't know the specifics of this situation, but sting operations (of any kind) often have elements of entrapment, where an undercover operative induces behavior rather than observing spontaneous action. Not always, but often enough.

Don't get me wrong, I consider public restrooms an inappropriate place for sexual activity (including straight guys doing the do and/or drugs with women in ladies' room stalls), because they interfere with the ability of the general public to use the facilities for their primary purpose (and because of the unwelcome intrusion or "flasher" aspect ... it's not someplace to which one must choose to go, show ID to prove adulthood, and pay admission).

But preventive measures (partitions, spacing of fixtures, graffiti-resistant walls) are more effective at deterring restroom raunch than hit-or-miss stings, which mainly satisfy the need of politicians to appear to be doing something. There are practical, unobtrusive ways to make a place un-cruisy.

MichiganJock

Jun 27 2004, 02:16 PM

It is not the first time that gays have been targeted by cops in Michigan in this type of way.

Detroit police were sued by several gay men a few years back for entrapment involving a police "sting" at River Rouge Park. It cost the Motor City a lot of money.

cali1

Jun 27 2004, 02:29 PM

Not only am I being profiled because I'm a minority, but now the fuzz is profiling me because I'm gay?

Great!

smalltownboy

Jun 27 2004, 06:08 PM

I have a real problem with this sorta crap going on in public bathrooms....I think if its going on then the police have a duty to the public to stop it.

Entrapment....yep, I sorta have a problem with it, but what else can they do, man each toilet along the highway with a uniformed officer?

Private sex clubs....fine....but each time some little kid or hetero has to experience this sorta crap going on....well it ain't doing "us" alot of good from a PR standpoint for sure....and I resent being equated to this sort.

NJ

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