Homophobia and anti-gay violence

[Axel]

I don't like to harp on gay issues, but I think this is one that is worth bringing up. Just tonight, I was faced with violence and homophobia first hand and for the first time in my life, I felt like my personal safety had been compromised.

One of my friends was the subject of homphobia. He was physically threatened. Not being one to back down, he stared down 4 heterosexual men who had threatened him. I came to his aid, threatening the 4 men with a pocket knife (which I did not have) and I told them that I'd run them over with my car if they tried to hurt my friend. They promptly left.

However, as I was making my way back to my car, I was surrounded by the 4 men. I got in my vehicle quickly and picked up the rest of my friends. My boyfriend went on to confront of the men. They left him alone, but when I went to pick him up, they started to bang on the windows of my car and threaten me. I recollect them saying "I would fight with you if I weren't afraid of getting AIDS". Anyway, I and my friends escaped without being assaulted, but nonetheless, we were in a highly compromised situation.

For those of you who don't know, sexuality based crime is NOT considered a hate crime in the United States. I urge everyone here to make this a central issue when voting for congresmen and political leaders. It's a travesty that such a large group of people (approx. 10%) are at risk with minimal protection.

As for myself, being a person of strong will and obstinance, I'm going to start weight training and take self-defense lessons. I'm also planning to buy a seraded knife at Wal-Mart tomorrow. Once I turn 21 I will get a concealed handgun permit. The worst part of this all is that I am living on a college campus - a supposedly liberal and open minded place. This is not the first time I have experienced homophobia, but it is the first time I have felt my personal safety to be at risk....

... stepping off the soapbox. I'm still moderately drunk, and emotionally spent.

[benji]

For those of you who don't know, sexuality based crime is NOT considered a hate crime in the United States. I urge everyone here to make this a central issue when voting for congresmen and political leaders. It's a travesty that such a large group of people (approx. 10%) are at risk with minimal protection.

I will only vote for people who don't believe in criminalizing thought.

Assault, battery, murder, are already crimes. We don't need to criminalize thought on top of them. Some of us don't want to live in totalitarian states where thinking the "wrong" way is a crime.

[Dramacydal]

"I would fight with you if I weren't afraid of getting AIDS".

Gotta give it to them. Most hilarious excuse ever.

[Oskar]

They should take some fighting lessons.

[The X]

crazy to think that non-police officers can can legally conceal guns....

either way, sucks about what happened....there are idiots around everywhere....it doesn't matter if you are gay or straight, black, white or Asian, they will find a reason to pick a fight....usually to compensate for something else....

[cyanide]

crazy to think that non-police officers can can legally conceal guns....

Yeah, I was just about to say, why not call the cops instead of carry a gun around which could cause more shit?

Edit: While it's unfortunate that you were in that situation, I can't say that I'm sympathetic. You did threaten them as well and escalated the confrontation, and your reaction to this experience is to jack up your self defense. Martial arts is great, but a knife and a gun? What are the police for if putting matters into your own hands could cause more trauma, liability, and risk?

[Patr1ck]

I's day stick with the martial arts course and the knife. Don't worry about getting a gun permit. You don't want to shoot people, just protect yourself.

Next time someone is right beside your car door threatening you, slam them by opening the door real hard, especially if they put there face right up near the window. Fake like your going to roll the window down, roll it down a little bit, and WHAM! Fuck his ass up(No pun intended).

As my dad would say, "You don't have to kill them, just maim them."

[Axel]

For those of you who don't know, sexuality based crime is NOT considered a hate crime in the United States. I urge everyone here to make this a central issue when voting for congresmen and political leaders. It's a travesty that such a large group of people (approx. 10%) are at risk with minimal protection.

I will only vote for people who don't believe in criminalizing thought.

Assault, battery, murder, are already crimes. We don't need to criminalize thought on top of them. Some of us don't want to live in totalitarian states where thinking the "wrong" way is a crime.

The same protections are already afforded to women and racial minorities.

[Axel]

crazy to think that non-police officers can can legally conceal guns....

Yeah, I was just about to say, why not call the cops instead of carry a gun around which could cause more shit?

Edit: While it's unfortunate that you were in that situation, I can't say that I'm sympathetic. You did threaten them as well and escalated the confrontation, and your reaction to this experience is to jack up your self defense. Martial arts is great, but a knife and a gun? What are the police for if putting matters into your own hands could cause more trauma, liability, and risk?

I was planning on getting a gun permit long before this incident ever happened. I'm a strong proponent of the Second Amendment.

I have minimal trust in the police here. My friend and bf were walking in the very same spot I was and they saw a police officer beating a guy senseless for no legitimate reason. The guy was taunting the officer, yes, but he wasn't a real threat. Then all the sudden the officer starts beating the shit out of him, and he refuses to give out his badge number stating "we don't have badge numbers".

Scary thought when the police don't feel they have to be responsible in their actions.

[Joe']

there are idiots around everywhere....it doesn't matter if you are gay or straight, black, white or Asian, they will find a reason to pick a fight....usually to compensate for something else....

Exactly. I was at some pub yesterday and some random guy started pushing me (while I was still seated) for no reason. I was having a conversation with some friends and apparently this guy disagreed with what I was saying so he just started pushing me. Happens a lot actually...

Look, man, they're just idiots. They do what they do just to entertain themselves, I haven't yet met a single one of these guys who was actually up for a fight.

As for the gun, as it's been said before, it could cause more shit than you're prepared for, so I'd go for the self defense classes.

[shadowgrin]

Batman would frown upon you Axel for trying to go Punisher on their ass.

[Maaarf]

Come on people, counting on the police these days is a bit naive And I'm not saying this to give off the "I'm-a-bad-ass-fuck-the-police" vibe. If these guys would have been serious do you think he would have had the time to call the cops?

[benji]

The same protections are already afforded to women and racial minorities.

Just because we do some things wrong doesn't mean we should do more things wrong.

You think passing a law that says "it is illegal to think ill of gays while committing crimes against them" would have done anything in this situation? Do you think existing "hate crime" statutes have any effect on gender or racial based crimes?

"Hate crime" laws are not protection for anyone. They're oppression. They're simply vengence against "unwanted" thoughts. They are unconstitutional, totalitarian and should be wiped off the books immediately.

Scary thought when the police don't feel they have to be responsible in their actions.

So you're afraid of the government, yet you want it to give it authority to police our thoughts.

[Oznogrd]

Being disabled i'm already included in hate crime legislation but Axel: its been said and will be said again: you cant criminalize thought. People arent gonna like you're gay because it challenges their beliefs and ideals. All crimes, are crimes of hate.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whUrp-bDxGw[/youtube]


Also going to agree with the sentiments about defending yourself: Martial Arts/Knive>gun: gun=someone dead. Do you really want to have a jury deciding if it was self defense or murder?

I see where you're coming from: i've seen plenty of it in my days. But hate crime laws will not fix the problem.

[bowdown]

well there are always idiots who never had a chance as kids to think broadly and openly and end up being idiotic discriminating losers. i personally dont care what hole u like to put it in. I also have a hard time being mean to person who has done nothing wrong to me

[Drex]

either way, sucks about what happened....there are idiots around everywhere....it doesn't matter if you are gay or straight, black, white or Asian

Exactly. Just yesterday a guy was killed here in Chile by a gay dude, because he didn't want to have sex with him. That's heterophobia, right?

[Fitzy]

either way, sucks about what happened....there are idiots around everywhere....it doesn't matter if you are gay or straight, black, white or Asian, they will find a reason to pick a fight....usually to compensate for something else....

defiantly agree on that one. just last weekend i ended up in hospital for 4 hours cause a guy and his brother attacked me because he thought i was trying to get with his girlfriend. what is the world coming to

[Andrew]

It seems to me that the concept of "hate crimes" was developed with good intentions, to deter people who may be moved to commit acts of violence, bullying or vandalism by their beliefs but I have to agree that you can't fairly criminalise thought or punish criminals differently as that too is a form of discrimination. As a straight white man, I certainly won't claim to be the victim of prejudice but if I happen to run afoul of a group of thugs who believe I made a pass at someone's girlfriend or just want to beat the crap out of someone, I deserve the same protection as anyone else and the thugs deserve to be punished to the full extent of the law.

Anyway, I am sorry to hear about the situation Axel and glad that you were able to escape it without coming to harm. A self defense course does sound like a good idea but I'm not so sure about carrying weapons though not living in the same place you do and experiencing these confrontations I guess that's not my call to make. No matter what, I do think you should avoid escalating those situations whenever possible, if you're able to just walk away whatever childish names they throw at you have to be a lot better than the consequences that would arise if you end up badly injuring someone (or worse). But if you must defend yourself, so much the better if you're prepared.

[dansensei]

it's always better to just walk off to that kind of incident if possible. answering back only escalates your danger rate.

[bowdown]

i mean even if u are a homophobe i dont see a reason why u would go further than just laughing at a gay person walking by.

[Oznogrd]

i mean even if u are a homophobe i dont see a reason why u would go further than just laughing at a gay person walking by.

The people who attack others for issues like race, orientation, age, ability levels etc. arent the kind of people who "reason" often

[Andrew]

Exactly. The way people act on their beliefs and prejudices differs from person to person. It might be something subtle like telling their children to stay away from someone they mistakenly believe to be dangerous because of their race or sexual orientation, they might be more assertive in excluding that person or they might take an aggressive stance such as being abusive and/or violent.