NY Singer's Jaw Wired Shut Due to Anti-Gay Violence
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Philadelphia, PA (PP National) June 11, 2006. Six or seven young men approach, accost, sexually ridicule, and then violently assault a well-known gay performer in the early hours of the morning, in full view of pedestrians. As in the tragic case of Kitty Genovese, the eyes of city dwellers once again turn away, the voices behind them once again muttering "don't get involved...don't get involved..." As a result, Kevin Aviance, 38-year old singer and drag performer, is beaten to the curb by a mob of thugs screaming anti-gay slurs and threatening his death.
According to reports, two 20 year old men and a 16 year old minor were arrested in connection with the beating. All were charged with first degree assault as a hate crime. But where are the other three or four persons who were shouting, throwing objects, and eventually punching and beating the young singer. As a final insult, they stole his cellphone.
Apparently, bystanders waited until the victim had lost consciousness before going to his aid, by which time his jaw had been broken, a tragic injury for a singer planning to perform in next week's Gay Pride parade and festivities.
"This is abominable on so many levels," said Gwen Patton, International Media Spokesperson for the Pink Pistols. "Aviance was assaulted solely because he was queer, and perceived as a valid target because of that fact. That in itself is something that requires immediate correction. But more disturbing is that the public ignored the crime being committed in their very midst, neither going to his aid nor, from what we know, calling authorities until it was all over. And worst of all, one of the perpetrators was a youth, clearly learning this vile behavior from adult role models. They should be ashamed."
The Pink Pistols is the world's foremost organization advocating the lawful use of legally owned and carried firearms for the self defense of the GLBT community, but many municipalities, including New York City, provide special challenges in that regard. "We have a New York City chapter, but their ability to function is hampered by draconian gun laws and punitive policies that prevent law-abiding citizens from acquiring the necessary permits to be armed at the times when they need it most. And the Mayor's apparent war on gun ownership, even by law-abiding citizens who have never been a part of the crime problem is not helping."
It is the position of the Pink Pistols that, if more GLBT persons in New York City were able to lawfully carry concealed firearms for self defense purposes, even if Kevin Aviance was not among their number, he would be protected by the public perception that GLBT persons are no longer "targets of opportunity".
NYC Chapter Organizer Jeton Ademaj commented on public persecption of gay-bashing: "I have been a longtime fan [of Aviance] and it horrifies me that every article about this makes a point of mentioning that Kevin was 'dressed like a boy', as if that somehow makes his assault more shocking. One after another, sexual minorities are attacked in any given part of New York City while the press ignores and some activists even applaud the defenselessness of the victims, whose cries are often ignored by passerby!
"As a group we try to provide locally legal self-defense training options. But when one person is being attacked by so many, the real solution is clearly personal firearms protection, which is unconstitutionally restricted here. Our United States Supreme Court must strike down these useless laws that make everyday citizens needlessly vulnerable to thugs. I have never seen a clearer connection between the lofty actions of politicians and the everyday needs of people like Kevin Aviance...our hearts go out to him as we wish him a speedy recovery. New York's cold-hearted Sullivan Law must be struck down once and for all, so that basic self-defense is available to us
all."
Patton continues, "People attack queers because they're convinced the queers either won't or can't fight back, because they feel justified somehow in doing so, and because they don't think they're going to be stopped, caught, or punished. We change that perception at step one. We make it clear that, at least for some of the queer population, we can and will fight back."
In places like New York, where the Pink Pistols find it difficult or impossible to get the necessary permits to carry firearms, they explore other options that are lawfully available. "But don't assume that because we can't carry guns that we're stopped at step one ourselves." Patton concludes. "We will find and use lawful means to defend ourselves from such attacks because it is our right to do so."
The Pink Pistols is the largest national organization for the self-defense of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered persons with legally-owned firearms, and has chapters in both the United States and Canada.
CONTACT INFORMATION
International Media Spokesperson
Gwendolyn S. Patton
media@pinkpistols.org
(610) 624-4678
Jeton Ademaj
NYC Chapter Organizer
jeton@hotmail.com
Philadelphia, PA (PP National) June 11, 2006. Six or seven young men approach, accost, sexually ridicule, and then violently assault a well-known gay performer in the early hours of the morning, in full view of pedestrians. As in the tragic case of Kitty Genovese, the eyes of city dwellers once again turn away, the voices behind them once again muttering "don't get involved...don't get involved..." As a result, Kevin Aviance, 38-year old singer and drag performer, is beaten to the curb by a mob of thugs screaming anti-gay slurs and threatening his death.
According to reports, two 20 year old men and a 16 year old minor were arrested in connection with the beating. All were charged with first degree assault as a hate crime. But where are the other three or four persons who were shouting, throwing objects, and eventually punching and beating the young singer. As a final insult, they stole his cellphone.
Apparently, bystanders waited until the victim had lost consciousness before going to his aid, by which time his jaw had been broken, a tragic injury for a singer planning to perform in next week's Gay Pride parade and festivities.
"This is abominable on so many levels," said Gwen Patton, International Media Spokesperson for the Pink Pistols. "Aviance was assaulted solely because he was queer, and perceived as a valid target because of that fact. That in itself is something that requires immediate correction. But more disturbing is that the public ignored the crime being committed in their very midst, neither going to his aid nor, from what we know, calling authorities until it was all over. And worst of all, one of the perpetrators was a youth, clearly learning this vile behavior from adult role models. They should be ashamed."
The Pink Pistols is the world's foremost organization advocating the lawful use of legally owned and carried firearms for the self defense of the GLBT community, but many municipalities, including New York City, provide special challenges in that regard. "We have a New York City chapter, but their ability to function is hampered by draconian gun laws and punitive policies that prevent law-abiding citizens from acquiring the necessary permits to be armed at the times when they need it most. And the Mayor's apparent war on gun ownership, even by law-abiding citizens who have never been a part of the crime problem is not helping."
It is the position of the Pink Pistols that, if more GLBT persons in New York City were able to lawfully carry concealed firearms for self defense purposes, even if Kevin Aviance was not among their number, he would be protected by the public perception that GLBT persons are no longer "targets of opportunity".
NYC Chapter Organizer Jeton Ademaj commented on public persecption of gay-bashing: "I have been a longtime fan [of Aviance] and it horrifies me that every article about this makes a point of mentioning that Kevin was 'dressed like a boy', as if that somehow makes his assault more shocking. One after another, sexual minorities are attacked in any given part of New York City while the press ignores and some activists even applaud the defenselessness of the victims, whose cries are often ignored by passerby!
"As a group we try to provide locally legal self-defense training options. But when one person is being attacked by so many, the real solution is clearly personal firearms protection, which is unconstitutionally restricted here. Our United States Supreme Court must strike down these useless laws that make everyday citizens needlessly vulnerable to thugs. I have never seen a clearer connection between the lofty actions of politicians and the everyday needs of people like Kevin Aviance...our hearts go out to him as we wish him a speedy recovery. New York's cold-hearted Sullivan Law must be struck down once and for all, so that basic self-defense is available to us
all."
Patton continues, "People attack queers because they're convinced the queers either won't or can't fight back, because they feel justified somehow in doing so, and because they don't think they're going to be stopped, caught, or punished. We change that perception at step one. We make it clear that, at least for some of the queer population, we can and will fight back."
In places like New York, where the Pink Pistols find it difficult or impossible to get the necessary permits to carry firearms, they explore other options that are lawfully available. "But don't assume that because we can't carry guns that we're stopped at step one ourselves." Patton concludes. "We will find and use lawful means to defend ourselves from such attacks because it is our right to do so."
The Pink Pistols is the largest national organization for the self-defense of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered persons with legally-owned firearms, and has chapters in both the United States and Canada.
CONTACT INFORMATION
International Media Spokesperson
Gwendolyn S. Patton
media@pinkpistols.org
(610) 624-4678
Jeton Ademaj
NYC Chapter Organizer
jeton@hotmail.com
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