Is gay bashing on the rise? (BBC News Magazine, 11/2/09)

[Duncan Grant]

Just as gay and lesbian people are starting to enjoy equal rights, the number of attacks against them seems to be rising. Why?

Ten years ago, a nail-bomb exploded in a gay bar in the heart of London, claiming three lives and maiming dozens more, the final act in a series of attacks on the capital's minority groups.

The intervening decade has seen significant steps in changing attitudes and legislation that give gay people - and their civil partners - equality enshrined in law.

But now another shadow has been cast over the UK's gay community. A series of homophobic attacks, at a time when crime figures suggest such incidents are on the rise, has mobilised people to voice their anger.

Over the weekend, candlelit vigils were held in London and Liverpool, at the scenes of two of the most recent acts of violence to make headlines, and also in Brighton and Norwich, while gay venues across the country held a two-minute silence on Friday evening in an act of solidarity.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/8337446.stm

[sui generis]

1. The odd thing about gay bashing

is that it's always a pack of them on ONE of us. What are they so scared of? I'd take on a pack. I'm not afraid of administering a shitload of aversion therapy. Y'all can watch, I'll sell tickets.

Cowards - they bomb total strangers, run in packs, single out the weak, and hang teenagers to die on fences, and they think WE'RE defective because of who we hang out with?

Unfortunately, sexuality makes the crazy-prone even crazier than skin color, and ironically seems to impact minority cultures of origin even more. The crazies that do this shit just want any excuse for violence, and bashing one of us is just today's feeble excuse.

The fact is THEY are defective humans.

[HillbillyBob]

4. My partner is on the road a lot..this is why he now has a concealed carry

.380. We keep guns here too. As some kreestians in Nazibama found out I CAN hit more than the side of a barn and partner is deadly accurate, he was offered sniper training while he was in the Army years ago. Of course where we live now strangers don't snoop..going up a dirt road with just a couple of houses could be dangerous in places like rural NC....

I don't get it sex is obscene, but you see all kinds of violence on prime time TV and that seems to be ok.

My past experience is those that react most violently have something to hide and/or prove. The are usually the ones that say you can F*** me but no kissing. smirk

[theHandpuppet]

2. I don't know about the UK

But I haven't seen one govt survey of hate crimes against the GLBT community that I would trust. I think assaults against GLBTs are greatly underestimated because many victims are afraid to come forward.

[Fearless]

3. Usually there is some backlash to "balance" the gains we make...

Unfortunately of course, but it almost always happens. Remember the actions taken during the civil rights movement. The assassinations alone. It's too sad that so much pain seems to be the price for our justice and equality. But we fight on, because it's just that damn important. :kick: