CONTACTStaffCAREER OPPORTUNITIESADVERTISE WITH USPRIVACY POLICYPRIVACY PREFERENCESTERMS OF USELEGAL NOTICE
© 2024 Pride Publishing Inc.
All Rights reserved
All Rights reserved
By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Private Policy and Terms of Use.
"
>
"
data-page-title="
A police officer who was involved in a 2009 Palm Springs sex sting used a gay slur, according to testimony from a witness who viewed a surveillance tape of the incident.
The slur may suggest police officers' motive to condemn gay men in the sting, instead of focusing on other types of crime in the area, according to defense attorney Bruce Nickerson.
According to The Desert Sun, complaints about drugs, prostitution, and lewd sex acts sent police to the Warm Sands neighborhood. Nickerson, however, believes the defendants may have been targeted specifically because of their sexual orientation and coerced into situations that resulted in the worst possible punishment.
Most of the men were encouraged by undercover cops to expose themselves after they could have already been arrested for lesser offenses, Nickerson says in the article. He called the incident one of the most "vicious" sting operations he's ever seen as a specialist in sting operations law.
Riverside County chief deputy district attorney Dianna Carter says the gay slur could have been aimed at anyone, despite sexual orientation.
Police officials believe the men should be charged with the harshest punishments possible to deter sex acts in the area, which they feel are not resolved with lesser punishments.
If charged under the California Penal Code 314, the 24 men arrested could face misdemeanor charges and would be registered as sex offenders on a list made available only to law enforcement officers.
Palm Springs "Sting" Police Use Gay Slur
" >Want more breaking equality news & trending entertainment stories?
Check out our NEW 24/7 streaming service: the Advocate Channel!
Download the Advocate Channel App for your mobile phone and your favorite streaming device!
From our Sponsors
Most Popular
Here Are Our 2024 Election Predictions. Will They Come True?
November 07 2023 1:46 PM
Meet all 37 of the queer women in this season's WNBA
April 17 2024 11:24 AM
17 Celebs Who Are Out & Proud of Their Trans & Nonbinary Kids
November 30 2023 10:41 AM
Here Are the 15 Most LGBTQ-Friendly Cities in the U.S.
November 01 2023 5:09 PM
Which State Is the Queerest? These Are the States With the Most LGBTQ+ People
December 11 2023 10:00 AM
These 27 Senate Hearing Room Gay Sex Jokes Are Truly Exquisite
December 17 2023 3:33 PM
10 Cheeky and Homoerotic Photos From Bob Mizer's Nude Films
November 18 2023 10:05 PM
42 Flaming Hot Photos From 2024's Australian Firefighters Calendar
November 10 2023 6:08 PM
These Are the 5 States With the Smallest Percentage of LGBTQ+ People
December 13 2023 9:15 AM
Here are the 15 gayest travel destinations in the world: report
March 26 2024 9:23 AM
Watch Now: The Daily
Trending stories from our video partner Advocate Channel.
For more videos and shows go to advocatechannel.com.
Trending stories from our video partner Advocate Channel.
For more videos and shows go to advocatechannel.com.
Latest Stories
Over 90% of trans youth live in states pushing anti-trans legislation: report
April 23 2024 10:08 PM
George Santos pulls out of New York congressional race
April 23 2024 7:04 PM
Biden will hammer Trump over abortion bans in Florida speech
April 23 2024 5:00 AM
Tristan Snell, who brought down Trump University, sees conviction in hush money case
April 22 2024 7:36 PM
Joe Biden admin marks Earth Day with major environmental initiatives
April 22 2024 4:18 PM
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott: 'We want to end' trans and gender nonconforming teachers
April 22 2024 4:13 PM
Nonbinary 17-year-old killed two years after being reported missing
April 22 2024 3:46 PM