Three women arraigned in Forest Hills T station hate attack

[FrodosPet]

http://www.boston.com/Boston/metrodesk/2012/02/mother-defends-daughters-charged-with-station-hate-attack/B2eNeYwKHNqfpt2PxJSjUI/index.html

Three young women pleaded not guilty today to civil rights charges for allegedly attacking a gay man at the Forest Hills MBTA Station on Sunday.

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Prosecutors say the three women attacked the man after he may have brushed up against them with his backpack on the stairs of the station. The women allegedly used homophobic slurs during the attack.

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“My daughters are not hateful people. They love everyone and would never beat a person up based on their color or being gay,” said Carolyn Euell.

[FrodosPet]

1. Can lesbians be homophobes?

Is this a true "hate crime" - was the victim attacked because he was gay, or because he was disrespectful to these young ladies, who just happened to use an unfortunate, but common, pejorative against this gentleman in the heat of the moment?