Kevin Aviance Beaten in East Village Hate Crime

[PalJoey]

Posted: 6/11/06 at 12:20pm

I blame George Bush.

===

4 charged with hate crimes in attack on singer

Sunday, June 11, 2006; Posted: 8:56 a.m. EDT (12:56 GMT)

NEW YORK (AP) -- A singer whose songs have topped the Billboard dance chart was attacked by a group yelling anti-gay slurs Saturday, and four people were arrested on hate-crime charges, police and his publicist said.

Kevin Aviance, 38, underwent surgery for a broken jaw after the attack, said his publicist, Len Evans.

Police said the singer, whose song "Alive" hit the top of the chart in 2002, was in stable condition.



A group of six or seven men attacked Aviance early Saturday, and passers-by did not stop to help as they threw objects at him, Evans said.

The New York Times, quoting Evans, reported that the attack took place in New York's East Village about 1 a.m. Saturday, as Aviance was walking home from a bar.

Four people were arrested on charges of first-degree assault as a hate crime, police said.

They were identified as Jarell Sears and Akino George, both 20; Gregory Archie, 18; and Gerard Johnson, 16.

Aviance performs in drag but was "dressed like a boy" when he was attacked, Evans said.

He had planned to take part in next week's Gay Pride parade and festivities, but will now be unable to perform, the publicist said.

Other popular songs by the singer have included "Give It Up," released in 2004, and "Din Da Da," which topped the Billboard dance chart in 1997.

4 charged with hate crimes in attack on singer

[Elphaba]

Posted: 6/11/06 at 12:31pm

I just saw this online. Horrible...........

[Elphaba]

Posted: 6/11/06 at 12:34pm

"Aviance performs in drag but was "dressed like a boy" when he was attacked, Evans said."

why does his manager feel the need to say the above line? That irks me as much as the actual event......it's almost like he's saying if he was in drag it would have been more understandable?

It doesn't matter WHAT he was wearing.........sheesh

[Patronus]

Posted: 6/11/06 at 12:41pm

It is amazing to me that this type of thing still happens.

Absolutely disgusting.
Updated On: 6/11/06 at 12:41 PM

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 6/11/06 at 12:42pm

what ****ing cowards to attack someone like that.

Posted: 6/11/06 at 1:05pm

Know what the most sickening thing about this is....NO ONE apparently tried to help him or to stop the attack. Indifference and apathy can be just as fatal as the actual attack. So sad.
Updated On: 6/11/06 at 01:05 PM

[Luscious]

Posted: 6/11/06 at 1:07pm

I blame George Bush and The Sopranos. Gay bashing is very "in" at the moment.

Posted: 6/11/06 at 1:16pm

"Aviance performs in drag but was "dressed like a boy" when he was attacked, Evans said."

That line made me cringe when I read it Elph. When someone makes a statement like that there is no getting around the intent. Sad. When are we going to stop apologizing for and excusing unacceptable behaviour?

And by the way, he is a man not a boy.

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 6/11/06 at 2:38pm

Throw these f**kers in jail and misplace the key.

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 6/11/06 at 2:41pm

I blame George Bush.

I blame George Bush and The Sopranos. Gay bashing is very "in" at the moment.

It's very easy to point a finger at politicians and the entertainment industry and say, "You caused this", but I don't think that gets you anywhere or causes anyone to take you seriously. Rodgers and Hammerstein said it best in SOUTH PACIFIC: "You've got to be carefully taught"---the people who did this were likely raised by small-minded homophobes who instilled in them a hatred and fear of gay people.

Hearing George Bush say that gay marriage is wrong or having a gay character on a popular TV show meet with a tragic end don't seem to be credible scenarios when paired with bashing. Lots of kids play violent video games, but less than 1% bring a gun to school and murder their classmates. I know that I'll probably take heat for the opinion I've posted, but that's the way I feel. Don't blame the media (because that's what people want you to do); blame the people who raised these boys to have disdainful feelings towards gays.

My prayers are with Mr. Aviance and his family and friends.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 6/11/06 at 2:48pm

I blame George Bush for dehumanizing gays. It empowers these Neanderthals to inflict violence on them because the president says the lives of lesbians and gays don't matter as much as the lives of heterosexuals.

I blame George Bush for dehumanizing us.

Posted: 6/11/06 at 2:56pm

Melissa you are right in that this has been going on before Bush but right now he is one of the voices leading the fight against GLBT people. I think people who want to hate find solace in the president's anti gay rhetoric. He's not helping us.

edit: No. He is hurting us. He is to blame for these criminals feeling it's ok to beat up a gay man. (for a moment there I started making excuses for our worthless leader) Updated On: 6/11/06 at 02:56 PM

[PalJoey]

Posted: 6/11/06 at 3:02pm

MEF--read the Frank Rich column I just posted. He says it more eloquently than I do.
Frank Rich Is Back

[Elphaba]

Posted: 6/11/06 at 6:06pm

exactly chita, EXACTLY...........the boy, rather than man bit bothered me too

Posted: 6/11/06 at 11:38pm

'When young people hear repeatedly that gay couples aspiring to marital commitment are "undermining the moral fabric of the country, that stuff doesn't wash off,"'

Meanwhile, the BBC has ruled that the word "Gay" can be used in it's 'new' context of 'embarrassing, lame, uncool' on the air without being censored as in "Your mom made you carry an umbrella to school? How gay!"

What direction are we moving again?

Meanwhile, what a tragedy. I of course abhor all violence but can't help but wonder what would happen if four teenagers targeted a man in West Hollywood, Boystown or The Village, only to be surrounded by their potential 'victims' and beaten. As ACT Up once said "Fags, Bash Back!"

[YouWantitWhen????]

Posted: 6/11/06 at 11:42pm

I hope the four cowards get a nice lesson in prison.

Joe, wasn't that a story line from Queer as Folk?
Updated On: 6/11/06 at 11:42 PM

[GhettoBway]

Posted: 6/11/06 at 11:55pm

is anyone here in the ballroom scene?

[vbplayer]

Posted: 6/12/06 at 12:01am

Yes Pal....this sucks.....W has set the pace. "Damn you if you're not like me". I am so SCARED for us, the gay community. It keeps getting worse. He won't be satisfied until we are shot dead legally in the streets (ok dramatic, it's Tonys night). He is such a huge step backwards, I just can't stand it. But our thoughts don't mean a damn. It's people that carry out the hate that W dishes out. He is the manipulator that relies on his "followers" to carry out his bidding. I think this has been done before. Don't you think?

[YouWantitWhen????]

Posted: 6/12/06 at 12:06am

vb - I think you give W too much credit. I believe is more of the follower himself than someone who really believes in some of the hate he spews. I think he is more a tool himself than the architect of anything.

[Jane2]

Posted: 6/12/06 at 12:07am

I just heard on the radio that despite his injuries, Kevin expects to perform on Gay Pride Day. good for him!

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 6/12/06 at 12:10am

Hmmmmm. Were Beyonce's jaws wired shut on the Dreamgirls commercial? That could explain why the lip-synching was so awful.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 6/12/06 at 12:12am

I'm glad to hear that, jane.

I place the blame on Bush. He is the Decider. He tells the country what is important and what is not. He clearly told us this week that the rights of lesbians and gay men are not important.

He is not a follower, he is not a tool. He is the president and, as the plaque on Harry Truman's desk said, THE BUCK STOPS HERE.

So I blame Bush.

[Jane2]

Posted: 6/12/06 at 12:17am

Yes, Bush is no help to the cause, but a hindrance. The sooner he's gone, the better.

That last post was funny Namo. (saying this through clenched jaw though).

[vbplayer]

Posted: 6/12/06 at 12:20am

YWiW... no, I give W NO credit in the least. But his supposed power goes back to daddy. Daddy had many followers who chose to follow "mini W" in daddys defense.
And yes ....he is a tool.

Jane2- thanks for the info. Go Kevin!

[YouWantitWhen????]

Posted: 6/12/06 at 12:27am

I honestly don't even know of Bush believes half of the crap that comes out of his mouth.

He is ultimately responsible, and the sooner he is gone, the better for us all.

It is almost funny that as much as I disliked Bush I, I would take him in a heartbeat over his son.