Broadway Legend Joined: 7/22/03
"Look... words can be just as violent as actions."
No, no they can not. Eug, I know you're passionate, and I know many variations of this canard have been tossed around for years (my least favorite: "Sometimes words hurt more than a fist"), but I think it does a real disservice to victims of violence to say being called a name is the same thing as being punched in the face.
And I know anti-violence agencies are fighting the good fight (whoops, there's those "violent" words again), but when they keep statistics they include somebody calling somebody a name in there with people hit in the head with a brick.
He yelled "Faggot," threw a lit cigarette at him, slammed his face onto a car fender hard enough to dent it, drawing blood from the victim.
I say that's the same as getting hit with a brick.
If that had happened to me, I would want the perp charged, tried and incarcerated.
The police finally reported it right? After what, 3 days? And because, why, they felt they made a mistake? No, because everyone started complaining and they didn't want the bad press. I don;t see that as being a "positive" outcome to this, because it may in fact make homophobic cops resent us more.
No one is thinking of the big picture; this isn't the event that's going to change gay rights in the world, so stop acting like it is.
I don’t believe anyone here thinks this is the one event that will change gay rights in the world. People being appalled by the fact that pressure was needed in order to get police to do their job, especially in the case of a hate crime, is also completely justifiable.
In regards to the gay rights movement, it is also important that incidents of this nature (small or large) are not swept under the rug. It doesn’t seem that anyone is asking for these police officers or the assailant to be burnt at the stake.
Creating media attention, demanding action by the city and subsequently receiving it IS a “positive” outcome because it makes the American public (whom vote on our rights, as we’ve seen them do with reckless abandon in CA and soon in Maine) that this type of hateful, and often violent, discrimination is still present-even in the most progressive of cities in the United States.
Gay marriage was legalized in California for some time. When it was (wrongly) put on the ballot, the majority of Californians voted against it; obviously, most people still weren't accepting of gay marriage, despite the fact that it was legal. It's inconsequential to be strident in fighting for certain rights when all seem to be preoccupied with is getting what WE want and not caring about anyone else. Getting our rights is half the battle, getting justice is half the battle, no one seems concerned with actually making progress and helping people understand we're a legitimate minority. Getting someone arrested or getting the right to marry doesn't make someone who's homophobic any more tolerant.
There's a large overhaul that needs to be done in this country, but once again I will reiterate that this was an ambiguous "victory."
Updated On: 9/29/09 at 03:46 PM
I personally don't think our lacking rights and protection under the justice system has to do with people not viewing us as a legitimate minority. The past decade has shown that homosexuals are legitimately present in peoples' neighborhoods, churches, television shows, movies & workplaces. It's just a matter of their acceptance level.
Our treatment by the government is, unfortunately, because people don't see us as a worthy minority due to lacking education, exposure or overzealous religious beliefs.
I don't think the LGTB community is single-mindedly fighting solely for Marriage Equality or protection under hate crime laws, as you're implying. I think that people have a vested interest in a myriad of issues, including the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell.
A hate crime is a horrific event. Having the police do their job in response to it is not a victory: it's a given. To demand for that to take place is important in continually being viewed as a "legitimate" presence in this country, to use your term.
Updated On: 9/29/09 at 04:05 PM
"I don't think the LGTB community is single-mindedly fighting solely for Marriage Equality or protection under hate crime laws, as you're implying. I think that people have a vested interest in a myriad of issues, including the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell."
See, that's exactly what I'm talking about. You do seem preoccupied with only the superficial issues related to gay rights laodiceans. "Don't Ask, Don't Tell?" Seriously? That's what you bring up to prove your "myriad of issues?" Look, it's not worth getting into an argument over.
"A hate crime is a horrific event. Having the police do their job in response to it is not a victory: it's a given. To demand for that to take place is important in continually being viewed as a "legitimate" presence in this country, to use your term. "
And seriously, still, you keep throwing around the term "hate crime" with no reverence, as if someone was brutally attacked. Cigarette burns, epithets and shoving are NOT travesties; it happens every single day in this city. But AGAIN I will say this kind of whining doesn't make people think of us as "worthy," to use your word.
Cigarette burns, epithets and shoving are NOT travesties
Wow. So, what unless someone is beaten unconscious they should just suck it up and not call the authorities?
Hear that gays, it's not a big deal if someone attacks you, unless you're severely injured.
What is wrong with you?
Michael: I didn't misunderstand you. You misunderstood that I misunderstood. Haha I just should have put a paragraph between my 2 sentences. Yes, walking away is definitely a solution I agree with. As is reporting it once it turned physical.
FindingNamo: We aren't going to see eye-to-eye on this. But to me, being called a Faggot by a stranger is violence. It's the spark of violence. Hate-speech is hate.
Lumen2, that bad attitude of yours is horrendous.
I never said the victims shouldn't have reported it to the authorities. Jesus, that's exactly what I'm talking about.
People get beat up every day. Some report it to the police, some do not. This got a trivial amount of media attention because of the knee-jerk reaction to violence happening to gay victims and the lax of a few particular police men. Not the first time something like this happened.
Yes, I have a bad attitude because people just need to act so put upon all the time. Cry out all you want, but if you are really concerned with human rights why don;t you focus your attentions on what's happening with gay individuals in countries like Iraq? It's a better use of your precious time pretending to care about things.
Updated On: 9/29/09 at 05:57 PM
Lumen2...what is wrong with you? I agree with Kalimba, your attitude (along with your opinions) are horrendous.
Nick Adams is tweeting about Brody. I'm going to have to agree with Nick on this one...
"brodyfosse123 shame on you. I was not present for this hate crime thank god, but how dare you say such a thing. Shame on you. I post about these things to increase awareness and spread support, I don't sit on a broadway message board and talk sh*t. Rethink , rethink."
Updated On: 10/1/09 at 03:50 PM
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/16/07
God, Nick Adams can't say anything without sounding like a douche.
And Lumen's comments are just confounding.
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/5/04
"God, Nick Adams can't say anything without sounding like a douche".
The same can be said about you, Phyllis. BrodyFosse made an obnoxious comment, attacking Nick for no earthly reason, and Nick spoke out about it. How about you get out there and do something or say something other than being a big fish on a small board. Here, at least some people pay attention to you. Outside of here, who cares about who you are? Your dog? How dare you or Brody inhibit or belittle Nick's opinions?
Seems this board is an important part of your daily life. I'd pity you if you weren't such a nasty, negative person.
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/16/07
Oh, I haven't gotten my knuckles rapped by Sister Mary Ghostlight in weeks! Yay!
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/5/04
And how well you make my point. It took you sixty seconds to respond to my post, Phyllis, when I haven't seen a post of yours for weeks. It'll likely be another week or two before I ever read another word of yours. Enjoy your star status on a nothing message board that nobody cares about other than your little clique.
In the meantime, my thoughts are with Danny Calvert and his friend, who are dealing with a real drama.
Although I haven't met Phyllis, I happen to like what she writes here, and I highly doubt that she's as nasty and negative as Ms. Ghostlight likes to believe.
Updated On: 10/1/09 at 05:01 PM
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/16/07
Ghostlight, you crazy! I could try and mete it out point by point, but it would just be the same conversation over and over.
And for the record, YOU started this round.
You crazy!
Kisses to my darling Kalimba.
God, Nick Adams can't say anything without sounding like a douche.
The dude thinks the world spins around him. Wait, he BELIEVES it.
Here's Nick Adams and here are the planets spinning around him.
Oh, blaxx, you're just saying that because you want Nick to call YOU out on a Tweet too.
Admit it!
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/16/07
This is my favorite Nick Adams tweet of the day -
"Really? My 6 pack just cost me a job. Awesome."
I admit I want Nick Adams to tweet about me.
However, I believe I'm not worthy of King Adams and his Merry Six Pack.
"Really? My 6 pack just cost me a job. Awesome."
See. Pretty people have problems too.
A six-pack cost my old school bus driver a job, too.
Videos