Wednesday, January 26, 2011
If Somebody Threw a Slushie in Your Face...
Or the scummy students from Jarvis Collegiate.
“A slushie drink is one thing — it stains your clothes and hurts your pride — but when it escalates to chunks of ice, that’s dangerous,” he said.
The “slushie facial” is a popular form of bullying on the musical TV series Glee. Winsor is relieved the frozen Coke beverages missed his face, but his red Canada goose coat was soaked. Winsor ran into a friend a few minutes after the slushie attack who’d been targeted with ice and been called ‘faggot.’
Would you:
(1) Lick the slushie off your clothes and face, and thank your attackers for making you feel famous?
(2) Apologize for ruining a perfectly good slushie, and offer to buy them another?
(3) Or kick them in the head, until they choke in their own sweetness?
Me too eh? The faggot word is a murderous one.
"[He] beat him to where he had bruises and cuts over most of his body," said Hill. "The male begged for mercy as he was being beaten, but it didn't really seem to help and eventually Terry left the male laying in the snow just in his swim shorts, essentially unconscious."
Gays must bash back.
And bullies must be BEATEN...
Monday, June 14, 2010
Cons, Homophobes, and Hate Crimes

Another day in Stephen Harper's Canada. Another violent anti-gay attack.
Holtzman said he and Regier were attacked without provocation. He received about 50 punches to his head and body and was twice bitten by his attacker.
Both Holtzman and Regier suffered concussions, with Regier beaten so viciously he was taken to hospital, where surgical staples were put in his head to close a wound.
Because if you think 2008 was horrifying.
Police services are reporting a big jump in hate crimes, and they say gay men are being targeted more often and in the most violent incidents.
Hate crimes motivated by sexual orientation were also the most violent: 75 per cent were violent compared with 38 per cent of racially-motivated incidents and 25 per cent of religiously motivated incidents.
Now it's even WORSE. Last year was the bloodiest year. This year threatens to be even bloodier.
And don't forget that most cases aren't reported because many gays don't trust the police. And who can blame them eh?
When police decide that this isn't a hate crime.

This isn't a hate crime.

And neither is this one.

The fact is a wave of anti-gay violence is sweeping across the country, and as someone who could be hurt or killed, I blame Stephen Harper's homophobic government.
Because when you treat an oppressed minority like second-class citizens, you send out a message that it's OK to treat gays like garbage, and human scum everywhere can interpret that as a green light to bash them.
At the very least you might expect the Cons to fund anti-homophobia ads, instead of spending millions promoting their Porky Action Plan.
You know ads like this British one...
But I have never ever seen an ad like that in Canada.
And how can you expect the Cons to fight homophobia when they are part of the problem?
Organize, unite, defeat these ugly bigots.
Before they cause a BLOODBATH...
Shannon Barry's Special Gay Pride Parade

Remember Shannon Barry?
She's the lesbian in Edmonton who was brutally assaulted. Only to have insult added to injury.
"[It's] like this never happened to me. Like they don't care. And that's what makes me not feel safe in my own city."
That story both angered and depressed me. Because I hate bullies, and cops who don't do what's right. And I felt so sorry for Shannon.
So imagine how happy I was to see her smiling today.

"I don't know about faith and I don't know about trust, but I feel loved and I'm okay," she said.
Because that's what gay parades are really all about eh?
And the story reminds me of a video I saw earlier this week from a young lesbian named Cassie.
Telling gay people who are too afraid or shy to come out, that whatever the bigots say or do to them, they are BEAUTIFUL.
And we are with them...
Wow. Isn't that awesome? So simple and yet so powerful.
Hooray for Edmonton. Here's to Shannon and Cassie, my beautiful lesbian sisters, and my wonderful gay family.
Because we care for each other.
What doesn't kill us makes us STRONGER...
Friday, June 04, 2010
The Con War on Gay People Claims More Victims.

I knew when Stephen Harper and his Theocons declared war on gay people, that others would be sure to follow.
Because when a government treats an oppressed minority like second-class citizens, it sends out a message: these faggots are less than human so it's OK to attack them.
And sure enough it's happening. All across the country. An explosion of violence.
Like this one in Windsor.
A 27-year-old Amherstburg man is facing hate crime and assault charges following an altercation downtown, when two openly gay men were allegedly ridiculed and punched in the face.
So soon after this one.
On May 21, Chris Rabideau, a member of Windsor's gay community, was attacked downtown in a robbery while his assailants hurled homophobic slurs.

Two people have been charged but a hate crime charge was not laid in that case because police did not believe Rabideau was targeted because of his sexual orientation.
Oh really?
Tell that to Chris Rabideau...

"Many people around me have told me not to come forward and talk about this yet, but I see the urgency of doing it now," Rabideau said. "I want people to see the face of hate."
Or Shannon Barry in Edmonton.

Shannon Barry, 31, suffered a broken jaw, a crushed left eye socket and facial nerve damage after being kicked in the face early Saturday by a man who hurled sexual epithets at her before the attack.
Or how about this disturbing story.
A gay man living on Manitoba's largest First Nations community believes he's the victim of a hate crime after his home was recently torched.
And all of this and more happened... in Canada... in the last TWO months.
You know I can't prove that the Con war on gay people is fuelling this epidemic of violence. But all I know is that in many civilized countries governments are doing all they can to fight homophobia.
While Stephen Harper's Cons are not only doing nothing, they are homophobes themselves.
But that's OK. We will remember. We will resist these bullies.
They might be able to fool a lot of Canadians.
But they will NEVER fool us...
Friday, October 16, 2009
Gay Bashing Victim Charged with Assault

First it took police in Thunder Bay more than an hour to respond to the 911 call.
John "Jake" Raynard suffered 15 fractures to his cheekbone, a broken eye socket, a broken jaw and a broken upper palate when six to eight men surrounded him near a North Cumberland Street business.
Then they dragged their heels over whether it was a hate crime despite all the evidence.
His attackers, who yelled words like "faggot" and "vagina" at him, chased him into an alley. Raynard grabbed a brick for self-defence. It went black from there.
Now they say it wasn't a hate crime...and they've charged Jake Raynard with assault.
Jake Raynard, 30, is facing one assault charge and two charges of assault with a weapon. The weapon involved,Thunder Bay Police spokesman Chris Adams said, is a brick.
Police chief Bob Herman said at a news conference Thursday that there is much speculation that the larger group targeted Raynard and two of his friends after they left the bar because the three are gay. However, investigations – including interviews with independent witnesses – have determined that it was not a hate crime.
Isn't that great? Talk about beating up on the victim.
I guess the message is gays should not fight back against the thugs that threaten our lives.
Like these two who almost killed a gay man earlier this week...
But my message is FORGET IT. Because when I see something like that I know that I could be next, or my lover, or my friends, or anyone.
And I know what kind of message gay bashings send out to gay kids.
The student union at Fanshawe College has approved a plan to hold self-defence classes for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered students following two separate gay bashing incidents in London over the past few weeks.
So until police restrain or cage these violent homophobes that threaten our lives, what choice do we have but to defend ourselves? Any way we can.
Gay people are a peaceful people.
But enough is enough is ENOUGH...
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P.S. If you're on Facebook you can join Jake's support group here.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Jake Raynard Gets His Rally

A week ago Jake Raynard was savagely beaten by a gang of gay bashers in Thunder Bay.
The attack left him with 15 fractures to his cheekbone, a broken eye socket, a broken jaw and a broken upper palate.
So a rally was organized in his honour.
Jake wondered whether anyone would turn out.
But boy did they ever...
Good for the people of Thunder Bay.
Good for Jake.
"I think all too often people that are victims of these crimes are ashamed and try to hide from their attackers and the community at large," said Raynard. "I think they probably try to hide from themselves as well…we can’t have an open dialogue about these kind of things and try to really heal and recover from them without talking about them."
I'm still waiting for the police to arrest those responsible.
But at least the message has gone out; gay bashers are cowardly scum.
We are not afraid.
And love beats hate any old day....
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Jake Raynard and the Gay Bashers

The other day I told you the story of Jake Raynard, a gay man who was savagely beaten by a gang of cowardly thugs in Thunder Bay.
Well tonight I have a good news update. Jake is out of hospital and has an inspiring message for other victims of violent hate.
This story isn’t just mine. I’m sure there’s many other people out there who have encountered a lot of the same problems that I have in my life, and have encountered hate-related crimes and a lot of discrimination based on that."
"I would urge them to come forward and make their stories known and have it so we can start to heal as a community and start to move forward beyond this kind of hate."
You know I have to admit something. If those cowards had done this to me....
His attackers, who yelled words like "faggot" and "vagina" at him, chased him into an alley. Raynard grabbed a brick for self-defence. It went black from there.
Raynard awoke the next afternoon at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre with a broken jaw, broken eye socket and broken upper patella. He underwent facial reconstruction surgery and had two metal plates, nine screws and a wire used to put him back together again.
All I would be thinking is how I was going to track them down one by one and beat them bloody. Even if it took years. And of course, where the fuck were the police when I needed them?
A source told tbnewswatch.com that it took about an hour for police to respond to the emergency call, placed by employees of the fast-food restaurant.
But luckily for me there are people like Jake, and so many other gay people, to remind me that violence is not the answer, because we are better than the brutish, cowardly, gay bashers who hunt us like animals.
And because we are like that, out of something horrible can come something BEAUTIFUL.
Like this:
Dave Ivany, director of Gender Issues Centre at Lakehead University said that since Raynard’s story has come out, more people are starting to tell their stories about dealing with homophobia in Thunder Bay.
Or this Facebook support group that was set up by a guy named Juan
It has been agreed that this group will serve 2 purposes:
1. To support Jake, make him feel safe and welcome in his hometown, put a face to hate crime, and act on his behalf as he desires.
2. To stand together after this attack on our community and make public statements against hate crime, and to assert that WE define this community NOT the attackers.
Which is so right and so EXCELLENT.
Good for Juan. Good for Jake. Good for all the people who are coming forward to tell their stories.
The cowardly bullies may attack us. I definitely need to be a better person.
But we're fighting for a kinder, gentler world for everyone.
And we are not AFRAID...
Tuesday, September 08, 2009
The New Face of Homophobia in Canada

This is what the homophobes did to a gay man named Jake.
A man is in hospital for reconstructive surgery after being attacked with bricks early Saturday morning in what his family calls a hate crime.
John "Jake" Raynard suffered 15 fractures to his cheekbone, a broken eye socket, a broken jaw and a broken upper palate when six to eight men surrounded him near a North Cumberland Street business.
And nobody even bothered to help him.
"I was screaming loud enough to wake up six blocks," said Raynard. "How did nobody hear me?"
Good question.
Just like this one: Why in a country where anti-gay attacks are becoming more common and more violent, have I never seen ONE public service announcement aimed at the homophobic cowards who would do such things?
Or this one: Why do we have to fight so hard to have attacks like this one declared a hate crime?
Or while we're at it....why has Canada never apologized for jailing and torturing gay people for decades?
I wish I knew the answer...although I'm almost afraid to find out. All I know is that my lover, or my friends, or I could be killed or hurt tonight just for who we are.
And almost nobody gives a damn.
The cries for help that went unanswered.The truth that hurts.
Canada a gay-friendly country?
Go tell that one to Jake...
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
When the Bullied Bash the Bullies

Oh no. The petals are falling off the flowers. They had a better summer than I had with all that rain. But now they are dying.
Just like thousands of Canadian children are probably dying a little bit. At the thought of going back to school and being tormented by bullies again.
As you know I hate bullies, of any persuasion, more than I hate ANYTHING. So I couldn't help notice this story.
A Winnipeg mother has sent her bullied son to learn kick-boxing and given him a green light to "kick the snot out of" his alleged tormentor when school starts next month.
The mother of the victim in Louis Riel S.D. said the bullying has included physical abuse, humiliation such as pulling down her son's gym shorts and underwear in front of the entire class and, more recently, anti-Semitism.
"His parents don't give a crap," she said.
Now I have to admit that I did the same thing as that kid is doing. When I came out at the age of twelve I was attacked by bullies all the time. So I learned martial arts, and when I was good enough I attacked them.
And I also admit that I would love to see the look on that bully's face, when his quiet little victim kicks him in the head. Although I know I shouldn't.
And I still think martial arts can be good for boys and girls to help protect them and boost their self confidence. But these guys are right.
"Martial arts is not about kicking and punching...Violence only invokes more violence...."
Mr. Beltran and Mr. Pabuaya both stressed that selfdefence preaches mental discipline before physical training. Both emphasize verbal interaction to avoid heated confrontations."
Violence is a dead end. And bullying and homophobia are ADULT problems. Kids should be protected from both of them and not have to become violent to defend themselves. Or live in fear.
So it's up to school boards, and teachers, and police officers, and above all parents to do more to fight the problem. Because bullying in Canada is a national disgrace.
It can shatter young lives
People who are bullied as children have twice the risk of having delusions, hallucinations or other psychotic symptoms as pre-teens as those who have not been bullied, British researchers said on Monday.
And sometimes it can kill them....
Speak up. Spread the word. Shout it out. Bullying is BAD.
Don't let it hurt the children....
Saturday, August 22, 2009
The Killing of Alain Brosseau

They lit up the Alexandra bridge in Ottawa tonight, to remember Alain Brosseau.
The straight guy who was murdered on the bridge because his killers thought he was gay.
The last thing that his murderers said to him was, 'I like your shoes,'" Stewart said. "And then they let him go."
And they remembered how his death changed everything.
"I think the fact that he wasn't gay meant that it could happen to anyone."
In a city where gay people were attacked all the time and nobody cared.
Earlier that month, the Ottawa Citizen ran an article explaining that there would be no inquest into the number of men who had "fallen off cliffs" that summer, all near Major's Hill Park. The headline of the article emphatically quoted the chief regional coroner, declaring that an "inquiry won't solve cliff deaths."
"We weren't falling from cliffs, and they knew it — we were hurled over. If you were lucky, you grabbed onto something and broke your fall."
In Ottawa, Canada. Only twenty years ago. They were throwing gay men off cliffs and nobody cared. Not even the police.
Which is why I found this particularly moving.
On Friday evening, 300 people, including Gatineau and Ottawa police officers, gathered at the amphitheatre of the National Gallery to pay tribute to Alain Brosseau, and the changes sparked by his senseless death.
Because the same hate that killed Alain Brosseau is still out there.
"People are still insulted in the street, people are still assaulted on the street, people are still killed."
It happened to me. It could happen to you. As long as these crazed violent homophobes roam the earth it could happen to ANYONE.
So I'm glad they lit up the Alexandra bridge for Alain tonight.
He was a straight guy. But his tragic death served to make life a little safer for gay people .
And we will always remember him...
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h/t Slap Upside the Head.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
The Homophobes and the Big Kiss-in

I see that Michael Kandola, who allegedly assaulted two gay men in Vancouver for the crime of holding hands, is finally going to stand trial.
Smith was holding hands with another man on Davie St Sep 27, 2008 when police say a group of men yelled homophobic slurs at the gay men. Kandola then allegedly punched Smith.
Smith underwent surgery after the attack to have his jaw wired shut so it could heal. It was broken in three places.
And I'm thinking if the sight of two men holding hands drives these homophobes crazy, this should drive them off the deep end.
All over America, and in a few cities in Canada, on Saturday, August 15, at 2 PM EDT, people of every orientation, gender, and race will gather with their partners, husbands, wives, boyfriends, girlfriends, better-halves and loved ones, and at the top of the hour, simply kiss.
Now I'm tragically Scottish Canadian, and not much for public displays of emotion. But when I feel like hugging or kissing my lover I don't give a shit what anybody thinks. If they've got a problem then FIGHT me. So the idea of holding a kiss-in to defend my right to express my love used to strike me as practically HUMILIATING.
And last year I wrote a post I'd rather forget making fun of this project.
By joking that straight guys who were planning to hold hands in solidarity should make sure they wrote their blood types on the back of their hands. Or wear t-shirts saying "I'm really STRAIGHT don't kill me."
Because that's what can happen to us. Every day of the year.

But now I regret being so cynical.
Now I figure that in a world where violent homophobes have turned a simple act of human affection into something that could hurt or kill you, the more kissers and huggers and hand holders the better.
And sadly this is true too:
"...when you're trying just to be thought of as a human being, the smallest victories feel like huge ones."
So I surrender.

Go for it. Fight for the right to love. Surprise your lover with a political act. Smooch.
Send those bigots in Vancouver that message.
And I'll send them this one....
Friday, July 03, 2009
When the Bible is a Blunt Weapon

I was looking for any posts on Toronto's Gay Pride Parade that I might have missed while I was away, when I came across this one.
That surprised and disappointed me. Not just because I'm not quite sure what this is supposed to mean:
[Garbage strike you see, streets full of garbage, play on words, get you thinking.]
But also because if you're a progressive blogger, and you want to defend some bible-thumping homophobes, you really should link to the full story.
The Johnsons have hosted a table at the festival for more than a decade, displaying models of aborted fetuses and signs with bible verses. While they don’t have signs criticizing LGBT people, they would often engage festival goers in heated conversations homosexuality. The couple told WCCO on Friday that they “believe homosexuality is a sin and God has sent them to share that message.”
So readers can understand the difference between free speech, and trespassing where you are not wanted.
And while we're at it, also remember that in the United States the Christianist hatemongers wield the Bible like a blunt weapon.

And the last thing gay people need at THEIR party is a bunch of haters with models of aborted fetuses shoving Bibles in their faces with this kind of crazy bat shite in it:
"If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death. Their blood shall be upon them."
But why ask me eh?
Why not ask the two gay friends who after leaving the same Pride Festival the Bible thumpers were ejected from, were attacked by a gang of young homophobes.
Who insulted and threw rocks at them.
Ask them if they've had enough of this crazy bigotry. Or who needs freedom more.... Bible-thumping bigots or gay people?
But then...If you have never felt the hate that hurts or kills.
Or imagined your lover with his blood on his head.
How can you really know it ?
Friday, June 19, 2009
The Blogging Tories and the Homophobes

I don't like a lot of things I read on the Blogging Tories. The racism, the xenophobia, the relentless assault on modernity. And of course the mediocrity of it all.
But I never bother to leave comments because I'm not interested in flame wars. And what's the point ? Why stir up the batty cave? And have them fly out at you... SQUAWK SQUAWK ...FART FART....IT'S THE LIEBERALS AND THE MOOOOOOSLIMS !!!!
But today I HAD to eh? Put on my rubber booties and wade into the pigshit and the insanity. Because this is the LIMIT.
I'm not going to bother explaining to Shane Edwards why the Cons are donating money to the Gay Pride parade. I'll leave that up to brother Mark.
But I do want The Politico.com to explain to me why they would allow the disgusting feminist basher and homophobic hatemonger Karol Karolak to promote hatred against gay people in the comments.
And why they would allow him to slander me.
(Note Karolak's vile comments have since been removed ....see note at the end of the post. But this is the line that concerned me)
BIG HOMO propaganda machine in a full swing again; Montreal Simon calls for confrontation and violence against heterosexuals in Canada.
By accusing me of promoting violence with this post.
Which of course is outrageous because I don't promote violence against ANYONE.
But here's what I don't understand. Karol Karolak is well known as probably the most disgusting homophobe in Canada. When he tried to hijack a thread on the BT Forums recently, Craig Smith had the decency to take it down.
So your Honour ....why won't The Politico.com ? And do you think they'll have the decency to apologize for giving Karol a forum to promote hatred, libel me, channel his crazies my way, and possibly endanger my life?
NOTE: The administrator who deleted Karolak's comments says he was not aware of them for 48 hours. And as soon as he saw them he deleted them. And that furthermore that neither he or his blog condone Karol's views. Not that I said that ...just asked why they were not deleted. See note at the end of the post.
Or at the very least bore me to death, or cause my fingers to hurt from hitting the delete button.
Hmmm...I wonder how much I can get for that? Especially since I play the piano eh?
And what does Stephen Taylor have to say about this? Is he proud of Karol? And will he share the court costs.... or put up his bail ?
I also want to say that I'm not intimidated by any of the death threats I'm receiving...although I recognize the police may think differently. In fact, in a certain way I'm DELIGHTED. Because I started off thinking I needed a new i-phone.... but now I think somebody is going to buy me another big-screen TV !!!!!
But seriously....can you imagine that kind of hatemongering material ever appearing on a progressive site? I can't either.
Which only goes to show what kind of people the ReformCons really are. Why this country has to be cleaned up.
And why we're so much BETTER than they are. Pat yourselves on the back my progressive family.
Have a great weekend.
This one's for you....
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UPDATE: 22/06/09
This afternoon I was informed by the administrator of the Politic.com that all of Karol's offensive and libellous comments have been removed from that blog. And that the delay in deleting them was due to the fact he was unaware of them. And NOT because the Politico.com condoned Karolak's views. And I accept that explanation, although I still cannot understand how such comments should have been left up there so long.
I also want to say that although in my original post I believed the blog's author Shane Edwards was responsible for moderating comments I have been told that only the administrator can do that. So I can't blame Shane, and I'm sorry I did. Although I can't understand that since it was his post, and he was aware of my request he didn't write something or alert and administrator. For the complete exchange read the last few comments...
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Gay People and the Hatred that Kills

The scary thing about homophobic violence is that it can happen suddenly and anywhere.
In the crowded streets of Sao Paolo.
Or a quiet street in Toronto.
"They were drunk and had open beer bottles in their hands," says John. "When they approached us they were making remarks as 'faggot,' 'fudge packer' and 'you and your girlfriend.'"
When cowards attack. And even the police are no help.
John says he isn't impressed by 911's handling of his first call, made while he and Majikwa were being hassled but before he was allegedly struck.
"[The 911 operator] insisted that we walk away and hung up the phone," he says. "Could you imagine that?"
Then they wonder why more hate crimes are not reported.
When everybody knows the homophobia that fuels the violence is in the schools, it's in the streets, it's at work, it's EVERYWHERE. You're not even safe in your own home.
A B.C. Supreme Court justice has rebuked a well-heeled family for harassing a gay couple living next door to them in an upscale Vancouver condo.
Court heard the Harrisons played annoyingly loud music, summoned the police with false accusations, tried to instigate fist fights, hurled slurs, let the air out of the couple's car tires and threatened to kill their cat.
So why aren't we doing more to fight homophobia...like they are in the more advanced European countries? Answer: because this is Canada where bad things don't happen.
Except that they do. I've been attacked by drunken homophobes at least a dozen times, and if I didn't know how to fight ...or run.... I probably wouldn't be here today. I'd be dead or lying in some hospital with brain damage. Because they ALWAYS go for the head.
And who will be next? Your brother, your sister, your friend, your neighbour, or you or me and my lover? Hurt or killed just for who we are.
Because that's one thing we all know. One thing we can't escape.
Until this crazy hate is crushed. Until these violent bigots are leashed or jailed.
Tomorrow could be our lucky day.
Or it could be our last one...
Tuesday, May 05, 2009
Why Holding Hands Won't Fight Homophobia

Every year during Gay Pride Week I get to watch hundreds of gay couples walk up and down Church Street shyly holding hands.
The only place and the only time most of them dare to do that.
Which makes it both a moving sight....and a very sad one.
So imagine my surprise when I discovered that now we're asking straight people to take part in some same-sex hand holding.
You don't have to fight to change the world. Promote love and equality by the simple act of holding hands.
Which annoys me because you DO have to fight to change the world. And leaves me thinking that this has to be the sweetest but dumbest idea since Call in Gay Day.
Except that this time straight people could get hurt.
So I would just like to suggest that if any straights do decide to take part in this event they should take the following precautions:
(1) Before going out make sure you write your blood type with a magic marker on each arm.
(2) Wear t-shirts with something really clear like "Don't Kill Me I'm Straight."
(3) Don't forget to look over your shoulder so you can see the brick coming for the back of your
(4) Learn some karate like I did....or carry a baseball bat in your pocket.
Because while I hold hands, or hug, or kiss Sébastien whenever I damn well feel like it, I'm prepared to fight for that "privilege." Every day of the year. And with all the homophobes still out there they may have to fight as well.
Oh sure I know, I know. It's an ugly world. But that's the world WE are forced to live in.
And asking straight people to hold hands won't change ANYTHING.
On the other hand when it comes to fighting hate on the internet I sure love this video...
Because it's the attitude that counts.
I'm sure the people behind this dubious project have their hearts in the right place. And I'd love to live in a world where everyone can hold hands.
But first you've got to deal with the REAL problem...the bullying and the bigotry.
And never stop fighting...
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h/t Gay Persons of Color
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
What it Feels Like to be Gay Bashed

The scariest thing about gay bashing is that it can happen suddenly, anytime, and anywhere. Even in Canada.
Even in a gay-friendly place like Montreal.
And with that came the first punch – straight to the nose. I barely had time to realize what was happening when a second strike hit the side of my temple. Several more punches followed, all while I kept shouting a steady pulse of “fuck off”s and “get the fuck away from me's. "
Something about this story bothers me. Not just the speed with which insane hatred explodes into violence. Because I've seen it with my own eyes.
Or the cowards that fight in packs. Because I had to fight others like them for YEARS. In fact, when Sébastien first bumped into me, in a bar not far from where this guy was attacked, I was beating a bully bloody with a pool cue. So I know all about senseless violence.
And the part about the good samaritan didn't bother me either.
I was thankful this person came by, and I turned to her, if only to find comfort in a pair of sympathetic eyes. She looked at me, and in a pathetic act of consolation, motioned in the direction of the assailants and said, “Don’t worry, those guys are just faggots.”
Because sadly it's so TYPICAL. And just another sign of the problem.
So I guess it must be this that bothers me:
It took me a long time to compose myself. I was furious. I refused police intervention, medical attention, and even consolation from friends. I thought I was fine. I thought I could just shake it off. In hindsight, I wish I had realized that, yes, that’s blood coming out of your nose. Yes, that’s a piece of your tooth you just spat out. No, you are not okay.
Because where did David ever get the idea he should just shake it off? Why didn't he get the police involved? Doesn't he realize that a crime that isn't reported is like a crime that never happened?

So the guilty won't be punished, and the violence will go on and on.
But who can blame him? Being attacked suddenly....just for who you are.... is shocking and traumatizing.
You know it's easy to say that gay kids should take martial arts and learn to fight like I did. But why should gentle people have to become as violent their enemies?
Because David did get one thing REALLY right:
Fuck those guys. Fuck their views on life. Fuck the way they express themselves. I do not have a problem. I am not at fault. I will continue to eat my pizza and wear the tightest pants I fucking want.
Because nobody should have to apologize for being gay. Or for wearing tight pants. Or be attacked just for who they are.
Basher bullies are cowardly scum.
And the streets belong to EVERYONE...
Sunday, March 01, 2009
The Brutal Killing of Michael Causer

They attacked him when he was sleeping. They punched and kicked him in the head. They burned him with a lighter. They dumped his bleeding body in the street.
Now one of the thugs who killed Michael Causer has been acquitted of murder.
According to evidence put before the jury, the trigger-point for the violence came when sexually explicit images of the trainee hairdresser were found on his mobile phone, prompting a “sustained and brutal” attack on his naked sleeping form and leaving him with a fractured skull and a swollen brain. Mr Causer was punched, kicked and finally battered around the head with a heavy history book so forcibly that the book’s spine broke, the court heard. It was alleged that Mr Alker, who had never met Mr Causer, screamed “You little queer faggot” adding, “He’s a little queer, he deserves it.” During the trial it was also claimed that a cigarette lighter was used to burn the hair on Mr Causer’s legs, and that threats were made to rip out his body piercings with a knife. But the jury accepted Mr Alker’s evidence that he had been acting in self-defence after he denied making homophobic comments, blaming the attack on O’Connor.
And a Liverpool councillor has a question for the people of Merseyside.
"The question has to be asked whether the 10-2 jury not-guilty verdict into Gavin Alker means Merseyside society thinks it's acceptable to beat up gay people?
Good question eh?
But good for his parents for fighting back.
“We won’t let Micky be pushed aside because he was gay, never in a million years...”
Poor gentle Michael would have been so proud of them.
The bullies will be BEATEN.
The struggle continues....
Wednesday, February 04, 2009
Pope on a Rope and the Missing Homophobe

Well I see Pope Benny is trying to scrub the doo doo off his face....and save his neck from the rope of public opinion....by demanding that a bigot Bishop renounce his Holocaust denial.
In a move designed to head off condemnation, Pope Benedict XVI ordered Bishop Richard Williamson to unequivocally and publicly renounce his claims that there were no gas chambers and that fewer than 300,000 Jews died in the Nazi death camps instead of the accepted figure of six million.
But not his violent homophobia.
God did not wait for the founding of the Catholic Church to instill in men the horror of this sin, but he implanted in the human nature of all of us, unless or until we corrupt it, an instinct of violent repugnance for this particular sin, comparable to our instinctive repugnance for other misuses of our human frame, such as coprophagy.
I wonder why? Just like I wonder why although Richard Williamson spends ninety percent of his time attacking gay people, none of the reports I have read bother to mention that fact.
As if religion excuses homophobia. As if a crime against the dead buries a crime against the living.
Even though the insane, violent hatred whipped up by these religious bigots keeps on claiming new victims.

A gay teenager was battered to death in a homophobic attack by a man armed with a hardback history book, a court heard.
A post-mortem examination showed multiple face fractures with extensive haemorrhaging and neck bruises.
They bashed the kid's head in with a hardback history book. But it might as well have been a Bible or some other barbarous religious text. Because that's where this murderous hatred springs from.
If Holocaust denial is a horror, so is violent homophobia. I just thought I'd mention that because nobody else did. And for Michael and all the others.
But hey don't you LOVE the fact that the Nazi Bishop now lives in Argentina ?
You know when you're gay sometimes you just HAVE to laugh. Even if you don't feel like it.
And then you keep on fighting....