Gay Singer Aviance Beaten

[Cosmo]

It boggles my mind that people would physically attack someone for being gay in this day and age. Sad, eh?

I've been lucky enough never to have experienced "gay bashing" personally, but my partner has. She was severely beaten after leaving a gay bar one night in Calgary. It's horrifying to me.

My solution? I figure us gay folks should start hunting skinheads and those intolerant souls who perpetrate this kind of heinous behaviour. Couple of homo vigilante groups out kicking ass would put a stutter in their step, I believe. If you know you're going to be hunted down like a dog for gay bashing, you'd probably take up a new hobby. Retribution sometimes is more effective than legislation. Quicker and, at times, more satisfying. "Is that a .44 in your pocket or are ya just glad to see me?" comes to mind. You cannot fight this kind of aggression with pacifism.

Gay singer Aviance leaves hospital after beating

By Daniel Trotta Mon Jun 12, 5:16 PM ET

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Gay performance artist Kevin Aviance was released from the hospital on Monday after suffering a beating that rights advocates said was a reminder of the hate crimes gays still face, even in New York City.

"Kevin is in a lot of pain, mentally and physically. He faces a long road to recovery," his lawyer, Jay Sanchez, said after Aviance was wheeled out of the hospital, his jaw wired shut and his leg in a brace.

"We all know it's happening out there all the time," Sanchez said of violence against gays.

Aviance could not speak for himself because of his injuries but he formed the words "thank you" with his lips to the media. He wore large sunglasses and a rainbow-colored sleeve.

Four males aged 16 to 20 have been arrested on suspicion of hate crime assault, in which the chart-topping singer and so-called "underground freak" performing artist was attacked upon walking home from a bar early on Saturday morning.

They yelled "kill the faggot" and other epithets during the beating, said Len Evans, Aviance's publicist.

New York police have reported 22 anti-gay bias crimes so far this year compared to 17 for the same date a year ago.

Gay sources said it was particularly shocking that the attack occurred in the East Village -- one of the most gay-friendly neighborhoods in generally tolerant New York.

Aviance, with three Billboard number one dance music singles to his credit as a vocalist, was described by Evans as "Missy Elliott meets
Grace Jones." The artist also lists Boy George and
David Bowie as his influences.

Now he will have his jaw wired shut for two and a half weeks, at the height of Gay Pride Month. He still hopes to participate in the Gay Pride Parade on June 25.

"He said it feels like someone pulled your soul out," Evans said. "This was his month to shine. He made people feel proud to be gay, to walk the streets and to feel comfortable in their own skin. That was taken away from him."

The executive director of the New York City Gay and Lesbian Anti-Violence Project said gays were particularly vulnerable during Gay Pride Month when "we are so visible as a community, which can fuel the ire of those folks that hate us."

At roughly the same time as Aviance was beaten, three gay men were attacked by seven or eight men in the working-class neighborhood of Astoria, Queens, Patton said.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060612/people_nm/aviance_dc

 

[FiveParadox]

This is ridiculous. People need to grow the [censored] up, you know?

I was beaten up a few times when I was in a younger grade in high school (then I switched schools and it was far better) for that very reason, once people found out — and the sad thing is, in high school, you get in trouble as a victim, too. Whether or not you fight back, if you're "involved", automatic suspension.

 

[Toro]

RE: Gay Singer Aviance Be

Brain-dead f****** morons.

 

[Finder]

it boggled my mind untill I read on and saw the word "Calgary" and then it became all too clear.

 

[Toro]

RE: Gay Singer Aviance Be

Yeah,

Its not something mindless like someone getting gunned down on Yonge Street on Boxing Day or anything.

 

[Finder]

Re: RE: Gay Singer Aviance Be

Yeah,

Its not something mindless like someone getting gunned down on Yonge Street on Boxing Day or anything.

*shrugs* Gun violance... Toronto, New York, it's not the biggest shocking thing.

Plus getting gunned down may paint the wrong picture, she was and others who were injured were caught in the cross fire of two rival gangs.

 

[tamarin]

Gay people should feel safe on the street. No problem. But there all a lot of spoilers everywhere these days. And they come from both sides. Witness the latest stupidity at Ryerson University where gay activists are trying to intimidate the institution. A renowned McGill ethicist, Dr. Margaret Somerville, has committed the ultimate sin: she opposes gay marriage. She fully supports civil unions for gays but feels given the rich experience of her field it's probably not a smart move for society to give a gay union full stature with the traditional. Ryerson gays are adamant she not receive an honourary degree this Monday. Universities are places that honour diversity they say although, as more than one writer has pointed out, this doesn't include diversity- of opinion.
It's embarrasssing and one more reason fanatics of any ilk are given little credibility.
So you're gay? Who cares. We all still have the responsibility to act as if we had a brain.

 

[fuflans]

Yeah, the Ryerson situation sucks. It's funny that many (but not all) of the students, administration and facualty members at universities claim to be beacons of tolerance etc., but are usually the opposite (in my experience). You can say or believe what you want as long as they agree with you.

I don't think that this is really comparable to being beaten by a bunch of teenage thugs, though.

Sad that this had to happen to Mr. Aviance.

 

[LittleRunningGag]

RE: Gay Singer Aviance Be

She was severely beaten after leaving a gay bar one night in Calgary.

*gasp*

Not in Calgary!?!

*gasp*


Sorry to make light of a bad situation, but Calgary is not exactly a city of tolerance.

 

[tamarin]

Calgary isn't high on the list but neither is Toronto. Living close to it, I've seen it evolve over the years to become a place where Identity Politics trumps all other concerns. The provincial capital is an embarrassment but hopefully it'll work out.

 

[Toro]

RE: Gay Singer Aviance Be

The gay activists at Ryerson do a disservice to the gay community at large because it re-inforces the criticisms - rightfully or wrongfully - that they are trying to enforce a "gay agenda". People ask "why should they be tolerant of homosexuality when homosexuals are not?"

It ultimately makes the gay community's job harder, not easier.

 

[Toro]

Re: RE: Gay Singer Aviance Be

*shrugs* Gun violance... Toronto, New York, it's not the biggest shocking thing.

Hmmmmm, lets see.

What's worse?

A beating or a killing?

Let me think about that for a minute.

<cough> rationalizing <cough>

 

[Colpy]

Re: RE: Gay Singer Aviance Beaten

Gay people should feel safe on the street. No problem. But there all a lot of spoilers everywhere these days. And they come from both sides. Witness the latest stupidity at Ryerson University where gay activists are trying to intimidate the institution. A renowned McGill ethicist, Dr. Margaret Somerville, has committed the ultimate sin: she opposes gay marriage. She fully supports civil unions for gays but feels given the rich experience of her field it's probably not a smart move for society to give a gay union full stature with the traditional. Ryerson gays are adamant she not receive an honourary degree this Monday. Universities are places that honour diversity they say although, as more than one writer has pointed out, this doesn't include diversity- of opinion.
It's embarrasssing and one more reason fanatics of any ilk are given little credibility.
So you're gay? Who cares. We all still have the responsibility to act as if we had a brain.

Yeah, but it is even WORSE>>>>>!!!!!!

Ms Somerville believes children are best raised by two parents of opposite gender ....Qu'elle HORROR! That is why she opposes gay marriage.....no religious aspect or opposition to homosexual acts as such, she fully supports civil unions.........she simply wants to look out for the best interests of kids.

Her beliefs have not been vetted by the lefty thought police.

 

[Colpy]

Let me add that I find the entire idea of using physical intimidation against someone because of what they admit to doing in the privacy of their own bedroom to be........weird in the extreme.

What is wrong with these guys?

 

[Finder]

Re: RE: Gay Singer Aviance Be

*shrugs* Gun violance... Toronto, New York, it's not the biggest shocking thing.

Hmmmmm, lets see.

What's worse?

A beating or a killing?

Let me think about that for a minute.

<cough> rationalizing <cough>

killing of course. But gun violance between gangs happens. A completely different problem. The girl girled by the cross fire was bad but those gang members didn't go out to kill her they went out to kill another gang member. The modus operandi behind the reasoning of the event is a lot different. If the gang members had decided to kill that girl, yes it would be just as bad but, the girl was caught up in a cross fire.

Anyhow my point is that I am not shocked that such an act would happen in Alberta. Though it could happen anywhere really.