CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. -- An investigation is underway after an employee of the Chesterfield Amazon Fulfillment Center was allegedly assaulted for being gay police sources told CBS 6 Saturday.
The incident happened on May 22 near the packing facility of the warehouse. The accused attacker is 34-year-old James Hill, who has been released on a $5,000 bond.
Hill was charged with misdemeanor assault.
"I feel sad but I also feel worried for my community," Stacy Vecchietti, a member of the LGBT community and advocate with the Virginia Anti-violence project said. "It is common experience it might not be physical it might be verbal harassment."
The victim told GAY RVA in an interview quote, "He turned around and walked back to work like nothing happened."
Amazon released this statement to Gay RVA: "We are appalled at the behavior of this now terminated individual."
CBS 6 was curious as to why this is not being classified as a hate crime?
"Virginia has a hate-crime statute but it applies to people on race, religion, but not sexual orientation," Todd Stone, legal analyst with CBS 6, said.
Stone says federal prosecutors could come in and charge this as a hate crime since sexual orientation attacks fall under federal hate crime laws --but Stone says that it is rare and that the misdemeanor assault charge will likely be the one to stick.
"In Virginia it's a class one misdemeanor -- he can get up to 12 months," Stone said.
Vecchietti says there were more than 2,000 attacks based on sexual orientation across the United States last year. Her organization has set up a hotline for those in need of support. That number is 1-866-356-6998 and is available Monday through Friday 8 A.M. to 8 P.M.
While the victim's name is not being released -- Vecchietti has this message.
"I want him to know he is not alone," Vecchietti said.
