Cody Rogers
Cody Rogers, an 18-year-old Tulsa man, was attacked over the weekend at a party at a friend’s house because he’s gay, according to a report on Tulsa’s Fox 23.
Oklahoma doesn’t have a hate crimes law that includes sexual orientation. Tulsa police are investigating the attack, during which Rogers lost consciousness, as an assault.
“It’s got to be extremely frustrating when you feel like you’ve been chosen, picked,” the Tulsa Police Department’s Jason Willingham told the TV station on Tuesday.
But changing hate crimes laws can only be done on a state level, Willinghman added.
Oklahoma is one of 19 states without such protections. In Texas, Gov. Rick Perry signed a hate crimes bill that includes “sexual preference” into law his first year in office.
A Facebook page has been started to encourage Oklahoma to expand its hate crime law. Rogers said if that were to happen, that’s where his healing would begin.
The Fox 23 report follows after the jump: