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theHandpuppet

(19,964 posts)
Thu Jul 31, 2014, 12:19 AM Jul 2014

The tally for July and why I will not back down

Today's news that a 15 year old transgender child in D.C. was stabbed in the back during a disgusting hate crime should serve as a reminder of why we still fight. Why I will not back down. Why I will not play nice. I don't want a pony -- I want basic human rights and dignity for all my LGBTs brothers and sisters. For the LGBT kids who will be be beaten, bullied or left homeless. For the transgender child who will be attacked just for riding the bus. For all the women and men who will be fired from their jobs, denied employment, benefits, marriage. For every LGBT person who's not safe to walk the street, for those who are tortured and imprisoned. For every LGBT living with guilt and shame because they've been told being gay is a sin, an abomination. For every LGBT who will commit suicide because they feel life is hopeless.

I WILL NOT BACK DOWN. Bet on it.

http://www.edgeboston.com/news/crime/News/162549/nm_woman_allegedly_beat_and_sexually_assaulted_teen_daughter_for_being_gay
NM Woman Allegedly Beat and Sexually Assaulted Teen Daughter for Being Gay
Thursday Jul 17, 2014

A New Mexico woman has been arrested for allegedly physically and sexually abusing her 17-year-old daughter for being gay. Local officials have enhanced the charges because they say the incident qualifies as a hate crime. KVIA 7 reports.

According to the Dona Ana County sheriff's office, the incident began when Magdo Haro became upset upon learning her teenage daughter was gay. Haro allegedly attacked the girl with a shoe and threatened to use a plunger on the teen to make her feel what it's like to have sex.

Investigators report that the girl said that her mother gave her three chances to prove that she wasn't a lesbian. Haro was angered by seeing her daughter in a baseball cap and demanded the attend church with her grandmother and refrain from wearing boys clothing...

...According to investigators, the girl also said she was forced to undress in front of her mother "show her she was a woman, and not a man." Her mother also allegedly demanded she perform sex acts on herself....

http://www.mlive.com/news/detroit/index.ssf/2014/07/teen_convicted_of_attack_on_ga.html
Teen convicted of attack on gay Detroit hairdresser at Motor City Pride festival
July 23, 2014
DETROIT, MI -- Christin Howard, a 20-year-old Detroit hairdresser, was beaten by a mob during the 2014 Motor City Pride festival, a gay pride celebration.

One of his attackers, a 16-year-old, on Wednesday pleaded guilty in Wayne County's juvenile court to assault with intent to commit great bodily harm Wednesday, according to a statement from the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office.

Video of the incident taken by a witness showed Howard being attacked by, and attempting to fend off, up to at least five attackers -- he says there were eight -- along the Detroit Riverwalk during the annual Motor City Pride festival on June 8.

Howard said the teens and young men made homophobic slurs, threats of violence and derogatory comments about his long hair he turned around and was attacked.

Howard endured multiple injuries, including bruises and a fractured finger....

http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-attack-sf-gay-pride-hate-crime-20140701-story.html
Police: Attack on 2 women after S.F. gay pride rally was hate crime
July 1, 2014, 2:31 PM

San Francisco police say two women who were attacked by five men after attending gay pride festivities were victims of a hate crime..

The group of men approached them about 5:25 p.m. near Mission and 9th streets in the south-of-Market neighborhood, he said.

"These two women were just minding their own business, walking home, when they were singled out by these suspects and attacked," he said.

The men yelled gay slurs at the women and then began kicking and punching them, he said....

http://www.towleroad.com/2014/07/rob-ford.html
07/27/2014
Rob Ford Supporters Attack LGBT Demonstrators At Ford Fest: VIDEO

About six demonstrators protesting what they called Ford's homophobia turned up at Thomson Memorial Park in Scarborough, holding signs that called for the mayor's departure from office.

"He needs to be held accountable," said Poe Liberado, who faced loud jeers from Ford fans. "His buffoonery is dangerous, his positions are dangerous and he needs to be taken seriously."

The mayor's supporters, however, weren't pleased with the anti-Ford sentiment, with a number of individuals getting into verbal confrontations with the protesters.

At one point, a few Ford fans grabbed the signs being held by the protesters, tore them up, and threw them on the ground, stamping on them in the process. One man claims to have been assaulted. Toronto police said they are investigating the matter....

http://www.towleroad.com/2014/07/gay-man-attacked-with-glass-bottle-in-oslo-after-being-asked-if-he-is-gay.html
07/26/2014
Gay Man Attacked with Glass Bottle in Oslo After Being Asked if He is Gay

Keith Brooks-Bekkestrom was attacked in a park in Oslo, Norway by two men who approached him on a bench and asked if he was gay. Brooks-Bekkestrom sais he was confused about why they asked him but replied 'yes' when they did.

The two men then proceeded to attack him and when he fought back to defend himself a third man approached and struck him in the head with a bottle. Another man who was in the park with his family came to help and the attackers fled, according to media reports.

The man helped Brooks-Bekkestrom wash his wounds in a fountain and call police.

Said Brooks-Bekkestrom to Norwegian media: "They had to sew a deep wound, so I have a pain in my head. They had to sew over my eye, and I have a wound on his arm. I do not feel safe here anymore, it will take some time."....

http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2014/07/08/video-ukrainian-gay-club-attacked-in-violent-neo-nazi-attack/
Video: Ukrainian gay club attacked in violent neo-Nazi attack
8th July 2014

A video has emerged of the moment 20 neo-Nazis burst into a gay club in Kyiv.

The attack took place two nights ago at the Pomada club, and follows the cancellation of the city’s pride event.

In the video, clubbers are hurried into the building by a bouncer as the thugs approach from out of sight...

...The attackers punch and kick their way through the door before being beaten back and fleeing for reasons that are unclear.

http://gaynewsnetwork.com.au/news/athens-police-officers-attack-two-men-for-holding-hands-14645.html
Athens' police officers attack gay couple for holding hands
Wednesday, 30 July 2014
Written by Sabine Brix

Two men in Athens have reportedly been attacked by up to ten police officers for holding hands.

George Kounanis and Harry Vassilakis objected to verbal abuse from the officers which reportedly led to the attack, with claims one of the policeman grabbed Mr Kounanis' hand before shoving him against a wall. He was told "this is what real violence is," according to the publication Lifo.

After calling an emergency helpline, the men were then referred to Athens' police headquarters...

..."We feel as if we're in a psychological maze. We feel totally helpless. We feel harassed by those who are supposed to protect us."

http://sosogay.co.uk/2014/police-arrests-following-vicious-transphobic-attack-soho-drag-queens/
Police arrests following vicious transphobic attack on Soho drag queens
Elliot Herman
10 Jul 2014

Police in London’s Soho have arrested two men following a vicious homo/transphobic attack on Old Compton Street last night.

Drag artists and members of the performance collective Familyyy Fierce, Maxi More, Ruby Wednesday and Pretty Miss Cairo were walking home when they witnessed two men verbally abusing a young drag queen on the street.

‘There were quite a lot of drag queens out in London,’ More told So So Gay, ‘because it was famous London drag queen Dusty O’s birthday. We saw a guy being very loud and obviously drunk, hurling aggression at a young queen...

...Describing her attacker as ‘ginger haired’, More, who was not wearing drag clothes but still in make up, described how the man instead set upon her: ‘I have long hair which was tied in a top knot; he grabbed my hair, dragging me around for around three minutes while punching me in the head before police arrived and pulled him off. All the time, his friend was standing nearby, pulling him away but without much conviction....

http://www.ottawasun.com/2014/07/14/gatineau-riverfront-robbery-gay-bashing-cops
Gatineau riverfront robbery gay bashing: Cops
By Danielle Bell, Ottawa Sun
Monday, July 14, 2014

A 51-year-old Orleans man, and another man who was thrown into the river in a violent robbery in Gatineau last week, are believed to be the victims of a "gay-bashing."

"He kept screaming, 'I know what you're doing here,'" recalled the man, who did not want his name used.

"He's attacking me, punching me, he's pushing me down. When he attacked me he was in this rage.'"

Gatineau police confirmed Monday that investigators do believe it was a hate-motivated crime, targeted against their homosexuality....

http://www.kentonline.co.uk/canterbury/news/jail-for-thugs-who-attacked-20984/
Canterbury thugs Landon Bruce and Jonathon Proctor jailed for assault after random attacks on innocent people in city centre

Two yobs who carried out “random and unprovoked” attacks on innocent people have been branded an "unacceptable blight on Canterbury".

Drunken jobless railway worker Landon Bruce and shop manager Jonathon Proctor, both 21, were jailed after leaving three people nursing injuries – including one victim losing his front teeth.

The pair – who were out in the city centre with a gang of youths in September last year– also attacked a man who was with a group handing out leaflets ”because they looked gay”....

And that, my friends, is just a sampling.

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William769

(55,145 posts)
1. Add this to the list (and it happened in my area).
Thu Jul 31, 2014, 01:35 AM
Jul 2014

Arrest made in transgendered woman's murder, burning

FORT MYERS, FL - Police have made an arrest in the case of a transgender woman whose burned body was found behind a Fowler Street business in June.

Terry Lynn Brady, 45, of Panther Lane in Fort Myers, is charged with killing 31-year-old Eddie James Owens.

Owens' body was found early the morning of June 19 at 2807 Fowler Street.

Detectives say they were able to link Brady to the crime with forensic evidence gathered after they identified him as a suspect.

http://www.nbc-2.com/story/26154682/arrest-made-in-transgendered-womans-murder-burning#.U9nUiGd0w5s

This is horrific (they all are). At least we have a suspect. I will be following this one closely.

theHandpuppet

(19,964 posts)
3. There was another transgender woman attacked in New Orleans a few days ago
Thu Jul 31, 2014, 07:45 AM
Jul 2014

It just goes on and on and on, everywhere. The basic human rights of LGBTs are not some pet issue, as even some democrats and progressives would treat them. Nor are human rights something folks can get around to addressing after everything else on the priority list has been taken care of. We're addressing it NOW. Anyone who opposes full, equal rights for LGBTs better just step outta my way.

to you, William.

Two more to add to the July tally....

http://elixher.com/transgender-woman-attacked-in-new-orleans/#sthash.LoRGBc13.dpuf
Transgender Woman Attacked in New Orleans
On July 30, 2014

An African-American transgender woman was attacked and robbed of her purse by three men early Saturday morning in the Mid-City area of New Orleans, Louisiana. According to the New Orleans Police Department, the reason for the attack relates directly to the victim’s transgender identity.

Residents of Mid-City, a community with a growing Latino population, are being urged to speak up about anything they might know regarding this incident. Puentes, a local organization that focuses on bridging the gap between the local Latino community and law enforcement, hopes to find leads to this attack and other crime in the area. Many Latinos in the area may be hesitant to contact law enforcement because they fear deportation, reports WDSU News.

According to a 2013 report by the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs, 72% of LGBTQ homicide victims were transgender women and 67% of homicide victims were transgender women of color.

And how many attacks like the one below never get reported?

http://www.ajc.com/news/news/graphic-video-shows-transgender-woman-being-attack/ngZJZ/
Graphic video shows transgender woman being attacked
Friday, July 4, 2014
By Carol Sbarge
WSBTV - Atlanta

ATLANTA — A video recording of a brutal attack on a transgender woman has surfaced on the Internet. The video shows a verbal confrontation between the woman and a group of men. Later on, the woman is body-slammed to the ground and has her head stomped on.

A group known as the Transgender Individuals Living Their Truth Incorporated, or TILTT Inc., said there has been an increase in attacks on transgender persons lately.

“I’m sickened by the fact that in a matter of weeks here, another member of my community (has been) attacked,” Cheryl Courtney Evans said.

Atlanta police said they are aware of the video, but said so far the person attacked has not filed a report....

 

Eleanors38

(18,318 posts)
2. Take care and practice situational awareness.
Thu Jul 31, 2014, 02:35 AM
Jul 2014

LGBT folks in Austin have a strong leather queer presence, and apparently they are relied on. And this being Texas, there are other measures as well.

theHandpuppet

(19,964 posts)
4. And on and on and on...
Thu Jul 31, 2014, 08:18 AM
Jul 2014

If you are reading this and aren't standing up for gay rights, why not? If you are silent while those around you cry out for their rights, where is your voice?

http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2014/07/29/south-africa-brutal-homophobic-police-attack-being-investigated/
South Africa: Brutal homophobic police attack being investigated
29th July 2014, 4:06 PM
Alice Milliken, PinkNews.co.uk

An independent organization is investigating claims of a violent police attack against a gay Congolese refugee in South Africa.
Yesterday the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) confirmed its intent to investigate the claims of a homophobic police brutality against a gay Congolese man.

The victim, 26-year-old refugee Junior Mayema, reported that the two policemen shouted homophobic slurs at him as they beat him with metal poles in a back room of the Claremont police station...

…“My only aspiration was to be free, to love who I wanted and to live my life,” Mayema said. “I thought that I could achieve this in South Africa, but (I cannot). The South Africans, the Congolese, the Department of Home Affairs, and the police – I have faced so much bigotry and abuse. I have been stabbed in the head and, now, beaten by the police who are there to protect us. Even refugees have a right to be protected.”.

http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2014/07/17/leeds-police-appeal-over-anti-gay-assault-at-train-station/
Leeds: Police appeal over anti-gay assault at train station
17 July, 2014

British Transport Police are appealing for information following a homophobic assault at Leeds train station.

Officers have released CCTV images of two men they are looking to trace in connection with the incident.

A 21-year-old man was attacked by four individuals after leaving a McDonald’s restaurant at 3.10am on Saturday 5 July…

…PC Daniel Worthington said: “The victim, a 21-year-old man from Leeds, was in McDonald’s in the station when he was approached by four men. After chatting, the group followed him to the taxi rank where they shouted homophobic abuse. Two members of the group attacked the victim, punching him in the head and face before running off.”

http://www.ansa.it/english/news/general_news/2014/07/18/rome-gay-village-hit-by-attacks_8175c7eb-0771-4561-a5b2-15a6d277d32a.html
Rome Gay Village hit by attacks
Community leaders ask for help

(ANSA) - Rome, July 18 - Rome's Gay Village has experienced a series of petty theft, assaults and beatings that may have been part of a series of targeted attacks on the gay community, community representatives said Friday.

Fabrizio Marrazzo, Gay Center spokesperson, said that recent robberies and aggressions occurring near Rome's Gay Village summer entertainment center were possibly deliberate attacks on the gay community and asked the city to take action.

"It seems strange that they would beat up a bunch of people who did not resist and were all gay just to steal a cellphone", Marrazzo said referring to one attack.

"We are facing, in all probability, groups of criminals who target places frequented by gay men. It is necessary that more vigilance is put in place". Gay Center reported two July attacks in which two men were beat up and robbed by three assailants in the EUR neighborhood near Gay Village, saying more may have been unreported as "lesbian and gay people who have not come out avoid filing complaints for fear that their families will be informed, thus making them the ideal victims".

http://www.costa-news.com/costa-almeria-news/item/3489-gay-couple-attacked-in-almer%C3%ADa
Thursday, 03 July 2014 14:24
Gay couple attacked on beach
By Adele Land

A gay couple in Almería were the targets of an alleged homophobic attack last week…

…As they got in the water to take a swim they were approached by two men who verbally abused them, calling them 'poofs' and 'fags' and were told "not to take another step".

A witness told a Spanish newspaper that the attackers were father and son, and that the older man was encouraging his son to abuse the couple.

Several people witnessed the attack during which Ricardo, who suffers from multiple sclerosis, was punched and kicked. He later required four stitches to a gash in his head.

The following is not a July report but staggering, nonetheless.

http://www.rivieratimes.com/index.php/provence-cote-dazur-article/items/france-sees-78-rise-in-homophobic-attacks.html
France sees 78% rise in homophobic attacks

A French gay-rights organisation reported a major increase in anti-gay attacks over the past year, following the legalisation of same-sex marriage in the country. The number of homophobic attacks in France rose by a staggering 78% in 2013 - a physical attack every two days.





Behind the Aegis

(53,955 posts)
6. That's fucking obvious given the last month.
Sat Aug 2, 2014, 05:26 AM
Aug 2014

There are certain people "progressives" really don't give a fuck about.

theHandpuppet

(19,964 posts)
9. Doesn't take much to flip that light switch, either
Sat Aug 2, 2014, 11:44 AM
Aug 2014

If I elaborate on that any further, I'll no doubt be in violation of some rule.

Behind the Aegis

(53,955 posts)
7. Our lives are not worth much to many people, even in 2014.
Sat Aug 2, 2014, 05:45 AM
Aug 2014

As horrible as things are around the world in regards to LGBT issues, too many think things are so much better for us, that our concerns are not as important.

nomorenomore08

(13,324 posts)
8. For every bit of progress made, there are plenty of angry, hateful people trying to shove
Sat Aug 2, 2014, 07:10 AM
Aug 2014

things backwards. Why the fuck is it so hard to just live and let live???

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