Kevin Aviance Beaten in East Village Hate Crime- Page 2

[Jane2]

Posted: 6/12/06 at 12:29am

And now W is saying he'd like to see Jeb go for the job in 2012

[vbplayer]

Posted: 6/12/06 at 12:34am

Political discussion, no one wins.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 6/12/06 at 12:37am

Okay then I blame the pope.

[YouWantitWhen????]

Posted: 6/12/06 at 12:40am

I blame Ralph Nader.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 6/12/06 at 12:50am

Don't get me started on NADER, ywiw!

[NYadgal]

Posted: 6/12/06 at 12:58am

I blame the people who raised the criminals.

[NYadgal]

Posted: 6/12/06 at 1:01am

But mostly, I blame the criminals for their lack of personal responsibility and respect toward another human being.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 6/12/06 at 1:08am

The Daily News article has much more detail.

Elphaba and Chita: Note that Kevin's manager used the DRAG expression "Kevin was in his boy clothes." He was NOT guilty of what you were assuming.

Another account said that the attackers were black and that much antigay violence, at least in NY, is black-on-black violence that rarely gets covered in the mainstream or gay press.

Sad, anger-provoking and complicated.

===

Drag queen beaten in E. Village horror

BY RICH SCHAPIRO AND ROBERT F. MOORE
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITERS

Kevin Aviance (after attack and in drag, below) was mugged leaving East Village club yesterday.





An internationally known drag queen and recording artist was robbed and beaten by four trash-talking bullies who shouted anti-gay slurs at him in the East Village early yesterday.

"We're going to kill you, f----t!" at least one of them screamed as they followed 38-year-old Kevin Aviance down the street. "We're going to get you, f----t!"

Four suspects were arrested and charged with assault as a hate crime, cops said.

"I thought they were going to kill me," said Aviance, who suffered a broken jaw and bruises. "I was thinking 'Is this the way I'm going to die?'"

The brutal incident unfolded after Aviance, whose real name is Eric Sneed, left Phoenix, a gay club on E. 13th St. where he had met friends for drinks after posing for Homo Xtra magazine.

The 6-foot-3 diva, who often performs in elaborate gowns, was wearing what his publicist described as "boy clothes" - shorts, a black T-shirt with a hood, and a hat at the time.

In his bag, he was carrying pumps, women's clothing and makeup from his magazine shoot.

"I've been doing this for 15 years and I've never been harassed," Aviance said. "If anything people approach me with warmth."

As Aviance desperately tried to hail a cab a few blocks up First Ave. about 1:30 a.m., the attackers tossed debris at him, Aviance said. One thug punched him in the face, knocking him to the ground, he said.

The gang dragged him to the sidewalk and started kicking him, he said. "They were not human," he said.

"You can see the extent of the violence and hate," an investigator said. Aviance added that there were several witnesses to the beating who didn't help him. "They were just cold."

Someone did escort him to nearby Beth Israel Medical Center, where he had his jaw wired shut last evening. He was listed in stable condition.

The muggers snatched his cell phone and wallet.

Arrested last night were Gerard Johnson, 16, and Gregory Archie, 18, both of Manhattan; Akino George, 20, of the Bronx; and Jarrell Sears, 20, of Newark, N.J. A police source that a witness led cops to Johnson, who fingered at least one of the other suspects.

Aviance has been a mainstay of New York's underground club scene and has performed his dance hits all over the world. The bald gender-bender hit No. 1 on Billboard's dance music charts in 1997 with "Din Da Da" and topped the charts again in 2002 with "Alive." He has appeared on television's "America's Next Top Model" and in a music video for Madonna's "Secret."

He was supposed to host the closing party for Gay Pride Week, which begins June 18, but that won't happen this year because of his injuries, according to his publicist, Len Evans.

Originally published on June 11, 2006
Drag queen beaten in E. Village horror

[bwaysinger]

Posted: 6/16/06 at 8:57am

Bumping this for a question: I was called by a friend last night who said he heard a protest/rally was being held regarding the Kevin Aviance hate crime beating. Does anyone have any details? We can't find it and I've tried googling, checking all the typical gay media outlets and I'm coming up with nothing.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 6/16/06 at 9:09am

Saturday the 17th, 2 PM at First Avenue and 14th street. A rally, then a march to Sheridan Square. It's been organized by Hedda Lettuce, with the Anti Violence Project.
March and Rally this Saturday Raise Our Voices Against Anti-LGTB Hate in Our City and in Our Neighborhoods

[bwaysinger]

Posted: 6/16/06 at 9:11am

PJ, THANKS! I'm planning to be there, hope some others can make it, too.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 6/19/06 at 12:22am

Here's something else you can do:

===

Kevin depends on performing for his livelihood. Without the ability to work, he will lose everything. He also has mounting medical bills and unfortunately, no medical insurance.

Today, you can make an immediate difference with a donation to the "Kevin Aviance Dance for Love Fund" - (Click on the link below). Your generous donation will provide Kevin with much-needed assistance toward his medical bills, rent and food.
Please help us get our favorite queen back on the road to recovery.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 6/24/06 at 3:47pm

Kevin says to his attackers: "You chose the WRONG queen!"

Although he won't be able to perform again until October or so, he will have his jaw unwired so that he can be in the parade Sunday, on top of the HX float.


Drag queen Kevin Aviance giving thumbs-up
this week while on mend from recent
attack by thugs in East Village.

It's important to remember that these 37 years of increases gay civil rights--some still far away--all began when a few drag queens said, "You chose the WRONG queen!"
His show of pride: Aviance set for gay day

[jimnysf]

Posted: 6/24/06 at 4:02pm

"Arrested last night were Gerard Johnson, 16, and Gregory Archie, 18, both of Manhattan; Akino George, 20, of the Bronx; and Jarrell Sears, 20, of Newark, N.J.".

Let's keep our eye on this and make sure these creeps get put away!

Updated On: 6/24/06 at 04:02 PM