Out in the Mountains

   
   

November 10- On October 27, Adams
County, Pennsylvania Judge Oscar Spicer
convicted Stephen Roy Carr of first degree
murder in a shooting that killed Rebecca
Wight and critically wounded her lover,
Claudia Brenner. In a move praised by
Brenner, the gay community and victim
advocates, the judge also excluded as inad-
missable any arguments by the defense that
the victims’ sexual orientation and behav-
ior provoked the attack.

On May 13, the two women were fired
upon at their Appalachian trail campsite by
Carr, whose attorney claimed in a prelimi-
nary hearing that Brenner and Wight “pro-
voked” the attack by performing sexual
acts in front of him, and otherwise teased
him. While acknowledging that she and
Wight had made love at the campsite, Bren-
ner insisted that they both thought they
were alone, and described the accusation
that they provoked the attacke as “not only
untrue but insulting.” In a statement re-
leased to the press, Brenner asserted that
“Rebecca and I were lovers... Nothing
about who we were or our love for each
other could be considered motivation for
the outrageous, inhumane violence that
Stephen Roy Carr perpetrated against us.”

Commented Kevin Beriill, Director of
the NGLTF Anti—Violence Project, “While
the criminal justice system’s handling of
this particular case was better than usual,
we should all be outraged at the attempt by
Carr’s attorney to blame Brenner and
Wight for provoking the attack. It is another
revolting example of how our society seeks
to shift responsibility for anti— gay violence
from the victimizers to the victims.”

Carr waived his right to a jury trial in
exchange for an agreement by the prosecu-
tion not to seek the death penalty and to
drop several lesser charges. Although he
has not yet been sentenced, Carr faces life
imprisonment without parole. An appeal
by Carr’s defense attorney is expected.

Commenting on the sentence, Brenner
stated that “a life sentence with no parole in
a maximum security prison, while not
compensating for our tremendous loss and
pain, is the appropriate response to a night-
mare that nothing can ever make right.”
Brenner also praised the handling of the
case by the local prosecutor and police,
describing them as “respectful and profes-
sional... All those involved never wavered
in the investigation and prosecution of the
crime. Most gay people who are victims of

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Killr onvicted in Anti-Lesbian Shooting 

violence do not receive the kind of treat. i
ment that I received.” Brenner also called ‘.
for greater visibility as a means of counter-
ing anti-gay violence: “The only really i
helpful position we can take is to be Open |
about our lives and to share our loves and
losses with all people we come in contact ,
with,” she said. ’
“This attack is the worst nightmare of
every woman and every gay person; it is the
ultimate violation of our right to live and 
love as we choose,” said Berrill. “In the
face of this ordeal, Claudia has shown in- i
credible strength and will and dignity. Her E
decision to speak out about the attack --and .
the bigotry that led to it-- is an inspirationto '
lesbian and gay people everywhere.” ‘

l
 frompagel i
took a map and a flashlight. As she walked .‘
through almost four miles of heavy undei- i
brush and rugged mountain terrain, the
thought that her friend needed help kepthei i
going, she said.
“I think the motivation of believing it
I only got help for her she might 
live...propelled me just as much as realizg

mg I needed help for my own injuries.l ‘,.

really feel... that Rebecca saved my life!
before she died,” Brenner said.

Along the way, she said, she worriedi
about being found by the gunman. I

“I was terrified,” she said. “Butlfeltl
had no choice but to go and take myl
chances, not knowing if he was waiting‘!
somewhere.” ,

Brenner was picked up by two young i
men driving on the Shippensburg Road.
She told them how to find her friend, butby l
the time searchers reached Wight, she had
died.

Brenner praised state police who inter-
viewed her for information about the al-
tack. S he has recuperated from her wounds.
she said, but she is still shaken by Illii
experience. ,

“I felt like a widow of 32 years old.’ I
she said. “That grieving process and ill!
pain isn’tover and probably will be withmfi
the rest of my life. That and the experience i
of having someone trying to murder mt
intentionally may never go away.”

(See related article on this page.)

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