Lesbians in Oklahoma attacked

The FBI has been asked to help out in an Oklahoma case involving the physical attack of lesbians. Two Oklahoma women were accosted, beaten, and wound up with anti-gay epithets carved into their skin. The FBI says it may be able to help state law enforcement develop a profile for the perpetrator(s), but they say their hands are tied with regard to providing any other assistance. In fact, they have not yet agreed to participate in the case at all.

In the event that the perpetrators are caught, they cannot be tried under any federal statute because the federal hate crimes legislation does not include gays and lesbians. The U.S. House of Representatives voted to include gays and lesbians, but the Senate dropped the bill in May.