Homophobic Murder in South Carolina

(Stephen Andrew Moller: accused of killing a gay man; wyff4.com)

A man has been apprehended in the punching death of an openly gay man in South Carolina:

GREENVILLE COUNTY, S.C. -- Deputies say a man is under arrest, accused of throwing a fatal punch because he didn't like another man's sexual preference.

Greenville County sheriff's deputies arrested Stephen Andrew Moller, 18, of Taylors, in connection with the death of 20-year-old Sean William Kennedy.

Deputies said that Kennedy , 20, was walking to his car from Brew's Bar early Wednesday morning when Moller got out of another car and approached Kennedy. Investigators said that Moller made a comment about Kennedy's sexual orientation, and then struck him in the face.

Investigators said that witnesses identified Moller as Kennedy's attacker. He was arrested late Thursday night and is currently in the Greenville County Detention Center under no bond.

South Carolina has no legislation protecting its LGBT citizens from hate crimes. The "Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act" (HR 1592) has already passed the house. An identical bill, "The Matthew Shepard Act" is pending in the the Senate now. The majority of people, even conservatives, support including LGBT citizens in hate crimes legislation. Tell your senators to vote for protecting LGBT people.