I'm surprised no one has mentioned this - even in an overwhelmingly male group, is no one aware?

On Dec. 13 a woman was abducted, beaten, robbed and raped by 4 men because she is a lesbian. The police believe the men stalked her, waiting until they could find her alone. She was forced into her own car, raped, driven to a burned out building, raped again and beaten to a pulp, then left naked on the street while the men drove off in her car with her clothing and wallet. She was able to find a neighbor to help her.

The East Bay lesbian community has responded with a grass roots support. A vigil was held and flyers distributed in English and Spanish in the area (Richmond). I am happy to say the four suspects have been all arrested. Two are minors, 15 and 16, two are adults.

A benefit is being held Friday at a lesbian bar in Oakland ( http://news.lavenderliberal.com/2009/01/04...january-9-2009/ ). The woman wants to relocate but lacks funds. Here is more information on how to help: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?.../BASB14VFFR.DTL

Attacks on our community have tended to uptick in the wake of antigay ballot initiatives. The police are treating this as a hate crime as the men's comments during the attack made it clear she was targeted because of her sexual orientation.

Please help out a lesbian sister.

Terrible! The world just keeps on getting scarier!

I've heard about it, but didn't really have anything to say other than it's an absolutely horrible story and I'm glad they've apprehended those sick individuals. I hope they are punished to the max. It's beyond comprehension how anyone could do such a thing to another human being.

I understand why she would want to relocate. Just being robbed gives a person a sense of complete violation and helplessness, so I cannot imagine how she must feel. Just a sickening story. Sick.