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Montana Home of Same-Sex Partners
is Engulfed by Flames

Residence of Lesbian Couple & Baby is Destroyed by Arson

Women's University Lawsuit Ignites the Murderous Attempt

Compiled by GayToday

Director of the ACLU Lesbian & Gay Rights Project Matt Coles says the fire was not only deliberate but intended to be deadly

Missoula, Montana-"Shortly after 3 a.m. this morning (Friday, February 8) a lesbian couple's home in Missoula was gutted by fire because they were part of a lawsuit filed this week seeking health benefits for same-sex partners of lesbian and gay University of Montana employees," said Matt Coles, Director of the ACLU Lesbian & Gay Rights Project

"Adrianne Neff and Carla Grayson took their infant son and headed for the front door - only to find a wall of fire. Back in the bedroom, Adrianne passed the baby out the window to Carla, then struggled to escape herself. The house was surrounded by fire, which officials said was almost certainly the result of arson.

"Whoever set this fire did not intend to simply frighten or intimidate this family. They meant to kill them. Two days after the case was filed, all of the plaintiffs received anonymous death threats in the mail that said, 'Die dyke.'

"We are shocked, sad and angry," announced the ACLU Director. "On Monday, Carla told a room full of reporters and supporters that she was a plaintiff in the ACLU's lawsuit against the university, where she is a professor, because Adrianne needs to have health benefits in order to stay at home and care for their baby. 'I'm doing this to protect my family,' she said about the lawsuit on Monday.

"Today," continued Matt Cole, we redouble our efforts to protect this family -- and continue fighting on behalf of others like them. We are working with local and university officials and law enforcement to ensure that this heinous crime is fully investigated and prosecuted - and that the families involved in this lawsuit are not vulnerable to further attack. The case is being handled as a triple attempted homicide, and federal officials have become involved in the investigation.

"This is not the first time in our history that people have been attacked - and burned out of their own homes - for trying to get justice through our court system. But we want everyone to know that this does not represent Montana. We call on everyone in this state to rally around these women and make sure they're able to live safely and with dignity." /font>

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Related Sites:
American Civil Liberties Union

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Human Rights Campaign National Field Director Seth Kilbourn said:

"We applaud the authorities for moving quickly to fully investigate this apparent hate crime. We hope law enforcement will arrest and prosecute these criminals to the fullest extent of the law and send a strong message that these terrorist tactics have no place in America."

Kilbourn promised:

"HRC will continue to closely monitor this case and is committed to working with local activists to make sure justice prevails. Our community will not be harassed or intimidated into silence."

Reported hate crimes based on sexual orientation have more than tripled since the FBI began collecting statistics in 1991, and comprise 16.3 percent of all hate crimes for 2000 at 1,330. Hate crimes based on sexual orientation continue to make up the third highest category after race and religion, which make up 53.6 and 18.2 percent, respectively of the total, 8,152.

Relief Fund: A special fund has been established to assist the couple with costs associated with the fire and subsequent security measures. Checks can be made payable to Relief Fund. Send to P.O. Box 775, Helena, Montana 59624.