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Arson at Galveston gay bar should be prosecuted as a hate crime
Editorial: On Wednesday afternoon, July 8, a fire was set in the upstairs apartment of the building that is home to Robert’s Lafitte, the oldest gay bar in Texas. Arrested and charged with arson in the case was Colby Lee Miller.
Miller is currently being held in the Galveston County Jail, awaiting trial. His bond is set at $40,000.
Luckily, no one was physically injured in the crime, but the outcome could have been deadly. Because the arson happened at a gay bar and was occupied at the time, the arson charge should be enhanced to a hate crime.
As of this date, Lafitte’s is still closed while damage is being repaired and all employees of the bar are out of work.
Prosecutors should use provisions of the James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Act in this case. Signed by Governor Rick Perry and effective on September 1, 2001, the James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Act increased penalties for criminal offenses like assault, arson, or vandalism, motivated by prejudice.
Hate crime enhancements are hard to prove, but Galveston County prosecutors should seek them, especially since the arson occurred during business hours, and the outcome could have been much worse.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent those of the Montrose Star. Johnny Trlica is editor of Houston Rainbow Herald Facebook page and has been published in several newspapers and magazines. He grew up in Rosenberg, Texas, lived for over 30 years in the Montrose and now resides in Galveston, Texas. He may be contacted at HRHeditor@gmail.com.
