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What a hectic week.In case you haven't heard, NYC nightlife darling Kevin Aviance was gay bashed Friday night, beat to hell and back by a group of young thugs on 14th Street.
I heard the news Saturday afternoon, when my phone started ringing and the text messages started pouring in. I've spent the last two days working the phones, trying to nail down the story for my mag. At one point I thought I'd been granted an exclusive bedside interview, but this morning the offer fell through. Kevin's jaw is broken, which makes it hard to talk, and his lawyer's now involved, which makes it even harder.
Even still, I'm not used to working on breaking news. Such is the joy of the arts and entertainment reporter. We have days, sometimes weeks, to mull over our copy. Not in this case. I cranked out my finished article in an afternoon. It runs on Friday, but if I get a wild hair I might post it early here for you, my loyal readers. (The both of you.)
Dealing with the incident, though, has also had other startling effects. It's made me reconsider all the drunken nights I've stumbled home from bars, both here in the Metropolis and back in Atlanta. Just the other night, the BF and I had a particularly sloppy night out at G, followed by a hazy walk back to the West Village. Even worse, we sent our drunk-as-a-skunk friend off into the dark bowels of Chelsea on his own. He made it home OK, apparently even found a friend along the way (ahem), but I now feel guilty about not being more concerned. If a Glamazon like Kevin Aviance can get mauled like that (similar to what happend to my friend Chris Crain last year in Amsterdam), then seriously, none of us are safe.
3 Comments:
I had a similar response to this horrible event. Having moved one block away from Blake's, I typically walk through a dark parking garage to get home, and wonder what might be lurking.
I've started to carry a gun.
Not really.
Seriously. Bryce and I have heard of three bashings in three weeks. The first two weren't famous drag queens, so alas, no Pride float for them.
All three happened in the East Village. Everyone needs to be aware and be alert at night. And take a buddy with you, or better yet, just take a cab.
March and Rally this Saturday
Raise Our Voices Against Anti-LGTB Hate in Our City and in Our Neighborhoods
When: Saturday, June 17
Where: Gather at NE Corner of 14th Street and First Avenue at 2PM; march at 3PM to Christopher Park (Christopher & West 4th Streets)
Why: In the last week - as unfortunately happens so often in June - a number of hate incidents have impacted our community in neighborhoods around the city:
Saturday, June 10, 12:30 AM - East Village, Manhattan
On his way home, Kevin Aviance is brutally attacked by a group of men yelling anti-gay slurs
Saturday, June 10, 1:10 AM - Astoria, Queens
A group of three friends are attacked by a larger group yelling anti-gay and racist epithets and wielding a baseball bat
Sunday, June 11, 5:45 AM - Astoria, Queens
A man is followed off of an "N" train by another man who harassed him with anti-gay language, pushed him down elevated platform exit stairs to the street, and kicked and punched repeatedly.
Make your voice heard...
...we will not be targeted even as we celebrate our History, our Pride and our Survival...
Stand up and be counted Saturday...but anti-LGTB hate happens all year long...
...what you will do to help stop anti-LGTB hate and help those who fall victim to it after the March is over...
Community Partners in this Effort include: the NYC Gay & Lesbian Anti-Violence Project, Daniel Dromm, Empire State Pride Agenda, Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, Gay Men of African Descent, Hedda Lettuce, Lambda Independent Democrats of Brooklyn, the Latino Commission on AIDS, Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, mano a mano, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, New York State Black Gay Network, NYC Council Member Rosie Mendez, NYC Council Speaker Christine Quinn, NYS Assembly Member Deborah Glick, NYS Assembly Member Sylvia Friedman, NYS Senator Tom Duane, People of Color in Crisis, Unity Fellowship Church of Christ, list in formation
Safety Tips
Please note that none of the following is a guarantee of safety, they're only tips that can be helpful:
1. Be aware of your surroundings
Who's around you?
What are they doing?
Are they paying attention to you?
2. Try not to travel alone:
Traveling in groups can sometimes (but by no means always) dissuade likely attackers. Hate violence perpetrators are cowards and there are almost always more of them than there are of you.
3. Don't let your guard down just because you're in a "queer" area:
About 25% of anti-LGTB incidents in the New York area happen in places that we think of as being "safe" for our community: in or around bars, nightclubs or LGTB institutions, streets in LGTB-identified areas of the city, and cruising areas.
4. What to do if you are the victim of an incident:
If you need immediate assistance, call 911
Report the incident to the Anti-Violence Project at: 212-714-1141; our counselors and volunteers are here to help you 24 hours a day. All services are free and confidential.
5. What to do if you witness an incident:
Call 911 if someone is in immediate danger.
Make it clear to 911 what the danger is; this may make the difference in getting a quicker response.
Call the Anti-Violence Project's 24-hour, bilingual hotline (212-714-1141) to let them know what you've seen.
If you speak with the victim(s), share the Anti-Violence Project’s hotline number and encourage them to call the Anti-Violence Project. There are probably supports and services that can help them pay medical bills, get free support and other services.
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