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Gay Male Challenges Harassment |
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Compiled By GayToday
North London---A gay Jewish man is continuing his fight for legal
protection against homophobic and racial abuse in Harrow Crown Court.
The case, which is now being taken by the Crown Prosecution Service, relates to allegations of continuing harassment of Mr. Daniel Cohen by his neighbor, a Mrs. Kenny. Mrs. Kenny has already twice been convicted for assaulting Mr. Cohen and has also been prosecuted under the Protection from Harassment Act, which was designed to deal with stalkers and persistent harassment.
I am taking this case not just to protect myself, but because I believe, particularly after the London nail bombings, that we all have to make a stand against racism and homophobia. I have been attacked because I am gay and Jewish. I want to encourage people who have suffered like me to use the law to send a strong message that his sort of behavior will not be tolerated in our society. Angela Mason, executive director of Stonewall, said: "We know from our own research that many lesbians and gay men, possibly as many as one in three, suffer harassment from neighbors. It is vital that the police and courts deal with these attacks and ensure that we can all, black and white, gay and straight, live in safety." |
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