This past weekend in El Paso, three young men kidnapped a gay teen, tied him up, and beat him all night.
the attackers told the man “they were going to scare him straight.”
Some might consider it extreme to blame this young man’s torment on the ex-gay movement. And it is true that I cannot prove that any of his attackers were familiar with any of the literature disseminated by Exodus or other anti-gay organizations. But it’s clear that they share some beliefs in common:
* Gay people can become straight
* Gay people don’t deserve to be treated the same as their heterosexual counterparts
* Gay people are not entitled to defining their own lives
* Gay people are the enemy
* Extreme measures are justified against the enemy
The attitudes of these thugs and the anti-gay political organizations that pass as support groups for SSA stugglers is the same: if gay people do not become straight, they are responsible for the consequences
And this beating is not an isolated incident. Coinciding as it did with the baseball bat beatings of six gay men leaving San Diego gay pride, it barely got attention. And it is with regularity that cruelty like this is being reported. It has gotten so that we hardly notice a beating unless the victim dies.
I truly believe that these attacks are the direct result of anti-gay language. And currently, the most virulent anti-gay language is given cover by the ex-gay ministries. Nearly every vile accusation and evil demonization hurled at gay people includes some reference to “love” and “former homosexuals”.
All of those ex-gays who lead the charge in this culture war against gay people claim that they “oppose violence”. But do they?
If your words lead to violence, beating, and death, don’t you have an obligation to do something about it? Once you say that gay people are not equal to straight people and once you’ve been used to give a veneer of “caring” to those who say that gay people are having sex with infants and animals, is saying “I oppose violence” enough?
When you falsely characterize someone as the enemy of society, you are morally responsibly when society beats them half to death. The political ex-gay ministries need to take an objective look to see if they have blood on their hands.
I couldn’t agree with you more. Thank you for posting what we have all been saying for years.
Uh… the beatings were in Edgewood, New Mexico and the court of record is Santa Fe. Edgewood is east of Albuquerque and south of Santa Fe where several young men were convicted of another beating recently.
There have been some heated arguments and some informative ones (and also here) in Santa Fe over the prior incident, as you can see on the Free New Mexican news site.
For instance take a look at the reply of Kathleen Oweegon in the first link I provided above. It reads in part:
COMMUNITY DIALOGUE Facilitated Anti-hate Crime Roundtable Don’t miss this opportunity to be heard, to hear, to learn, and to discover ways to make our community safer for all. When: Thursday, August 10, 2006 5:30 pm to 9 pm Where: Santa Fe Rape Crisis and Trauma Treatment Center Conference Room – at the intersection of Country Club Road and Valentine Way. Who: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Questioning and Intersex members of our community, along with other members of our community who wish to learn and understand more about how we can live peacefully with one another, honoring our differences and celebrating all that unites us.
Santa Fe is supposed to be gay-friendly, though some have derided its lack of obviously gay establishments. It is next to San Francisco the city with the highest ratio of gay and lesbian couples in America (making it “the little SF”?) – or something like that. It would seem that the prior incident might have spawned thinking towards this new one.
I share your outrage at the actions of those who attacked this young man and said vile things to him. I hate that their actions were motivated by his orientation. But to claim they were motivated by ministries or “movements” who claim to help people change their orientation is a bit of a reach. I find that “logic” is similar to those who say anyone who opposes abortion and a woman’s right to choose is responsible when one whack-job bombs an abortion clinic.
Taylor
[Deleted because the commenter has issued death threats and racial slurs on other websites. Read more about this situation here.]
Hate crime impacts a wide spectrum of LGBT people.~~Autumn~~Teen charged in assault on man dressed as womanBy MICHELE DARGANStaff Writer Palm Beach Daily News, FL, USAThursday, August 03, 2006Excerpt:
My 18 year old friend, Josiah Torres called to tell me that his friend Wesley Young had been murdered- stabbed and his throat cut by a 20 year old.
The killer is Jeffrey Kizewski and in his statement he plead self defense.
The autopsy however proves that Wesley was attacked from behind.
Bias crime motive will depend on such laws on the books in WI.
But this is definitely first degree, or else why would Kizewski meet Wesley armed with a knife?
Josiah says that Wesley was very sweet and funny and couldn’t have possibly motivated such violence EXCEPT because he was gay.
The murder took place out in a woods, with only Kizewski and Wesley present.
Josiah is heartbroken and very angry and wants to be active on this.
I’ve called the press and advocates who would track such a case.
It has been reported on the news local to Stevens Point, WI.
I called Stacy Harp too, just to let her know what kinds of calls I get.
And how this affects gay CHILDREN.
The consequences of HER and Adams actions are too easy to escape, and I resent it.
Josiah himself, and the friends he’s brought with him to stay with me, are fine kids. I’ve known him since he was thirteen and was working his way through coming out to his parents.
For ANYONE to speak in such a way that gay kids aren’t fit to be themselves or even walk the earth, enrages me. For someone to speak of gay people as worthless, if not a menace to society have to be held accountable for the deaths of youngsters AND the ones who go to JAIL for it!
To speak of gay people as if they aren’t to complain or respond when such outrages occur denotes that gay people aren’t supposed to respond like a HUMAN being would.
I don’t know how anyone can accept murder and violence and incarceration over simple acceptance of gay kids and their goals and successes in life.
This sister is holding somebody up to the wall.
Josiah’s breaking voice was ALL I had to hear!
This sort of outrage is a human problem. It would be so easy if we could blame one organization, like Exodus, or the ex-gay movement (whatever that is…Tdub and I don’t have our membership cards for it)….but we can’t. There is certainly an element of that line of thinking that makes it appear that these sorts of atrocities could be blamed on such organizations as Exodus. I fear it is a much bigger beast we fight than any earthly organization but I’m not going to go all spiritually mumbo jumbo on you. I’m just pointing out that we should use the sort of grace here that we’d like to have used with us when it comes to “blaming” and “holding responsible”. Just something to think about.
love,
grace
Ok… you banned one guy, what happened to the post I made Friday night?
I don’t think this is a far-fetched connection at all. Ex-gay ministries are responsible for keeping the idea alive that gay is a choice, gays can change, etc. Admittedly, we are a long way from ridding of the world of discrimination against gays, Exodus or no Exodus. But the talk and the mindset of these organizations does fuel the flames.
The real question is quite simple: As (purported) agents of God, could Exodus and affiliates represent Him better with what they do–and the outcome it produces in society, as evidenced here–or by helping people to understand the truth, that you can’t talk someone straight or pray someone straight or even beat someone straight?
Lij, one of your comments from Friday was automatically held by our spam filter. I’ve just released it.
I’ve noticed that it catches comments when they have a lot of links in them, which must one of the rules it uses to indicate possible spam.
Beating, shooting mar black gay pride festivities
Detroit police investigating alleged hate crimesBy Dawn Wolfe GuttermanBetween The Lines News8/3/2006 – Issue 1431Excerpt:
Josiah had told me about that beating incident. He lives in Alb, N.M. and believe me, gay kids were seriously afraid.
I worry about him and his friends all the time. These are good kids. A few are into the Goth thing.
They like attending live performances and art exhibits and films.
I personally got Josiah and Co. Tickets to Hedwig at the Roxy in Hollywood starring Donovan Leitch.
Which is a hit, btw.
Talk about polite, intelligent and RESPECTFUL kids.
Josiah took me to see Cher’s last concert at the Hollywood Bowl.
I think my rage is at the irresponsible adults that say these kids aren’t EXACTLY what I say they are.
But instead, people like this Guy Adams cretin insists they are feeble, unnecessary and a threat to all we hold dear.
I look at these kids and see KIDS!
Loving, pretty, handsome, goofy, interesting TEENAGERS!
A lot of these gay kids have straight best friends who are extremely unsettled about these violent attacks.
They feel helpless too.
And they hate that feeling most of all.
That’s why Josiah wanted to know what he and the others could do to rally advocates.
I think the time and money that goes into circuit parties, recreational drug use and frivolous pursuits needs to be put into DAILY marches and rallies.
During the civil rights movement, there weren’t any parties and half dressed people strutting around.
There was weekly and daily picketing, advances on political leadership and meetings on a weekly basis in churches, schools and private homes.
The party is for AFTERWARDS.
When institutional discrimination is over.
We got TEENAGERS left who are looking for the serious adults, they aren’t looking for a party. Hard to be in a party mood when you’re visiting hospital rooms and funeral homes.
These kids will run out of steam, if we don’t come up with a legacy far more substantive than they can’t get arrested for having gay sex.
The more important issues are far from settled yet.
We may not be able to stop and individual from hating us.
But the GOVERNMENT still has hateful policies in place.
And THAT’S where the fight is.
It’s hard to be taken seriously, when you don’t LOOK serious.
That’s the difference between the civil rights fight of before and now.
I love you all. But serious is as serious does.
These kids mean the world to me. They are MY reason for getting fired up in the morning.
Fired up and being SERIOUS.
This is not the time to lose steam.
Or we’ll lose these kids to something worse than death.
Apathy.
I think you all understand.
Thanks for letting me rant.
Ex-Gay ministries do not like being held accountable for their words and actions. They much prefer to hold everyone else accountable for supposed “moral offenses” against God.
I think people ought to know that EXODUS believes that all Hate Crime Laws should be abolished. Here is a quote from their website:
“Hate crime laws are a threat to freedom of religion and assembly and are a tool for crushing Christian Evangelism”.
My best friend, Jeffery Owens, and I were both stabbed in the back behind a gay bar here in Riverside — our attackers yelled anti-gay slurs as they attacked us. We did nothing to provoke the attack.
I recieved only one stab wound — to my right lung. Jeff was not so lucky. He was repeatedly kicked, punched and stabbed five times in the back. He bled to death on the operating table.
MB: I think people ought to know that EXODUS believes that all Hate Crime Laws should be abolished.
That is what they have said. But I’ve yet to see them write, comment or make public testimony against HCLs applying when the crime is against race or religion. Words are cheap?
And I hadn’t connected yourself as the other victim in the murder of Jeff Owens. I remember the reporting on the case, but for some reason the obvious “Bussee” flew right overhead.
I hope you don’t mind Michael, but for those interested there is a site that covers the case extensively.
I don’t mind at all. I want people to be able to put a “face” on Hate Crimes — and not just debate them philosophically. Also Google “Jeffery Owens Community Center” — being established in his memory to combat hate.
You might also want to check the Riverside Police Investigation on the murder and attempted murder at riversideca.gov/rpd/press/2002releases/jun20a02.htm
Ok, I just saw the posting about the Wesley Young murder, and I need to comment on this. Jeffrey Kizewsi has been a close friend of mine for many years, and I know as well as he does that the whole incident should have never happened, but it wasn’t a hate crime, and it was not premeditated. There is a lot more to this story than what was posted. I’m not trying to justify what happened, I just wish people would know what they are talking about before making judgements. You can read on the Stevens Point Journal website everything that is happening with this case. Most eveyone that knew Wes & Jeff are all agreeing that it was a drunken misunderstanding that got ugly. Something horrible happened, yes, but it could have went the other way too, and believe me when I say we would be standing behind Wes if he were the one on trial. It was a horrible accident… Not a premeditated hate crime.
“I’m not trying to justify what happened,…”
“it was a drunken misunderstanding that got ugly.”
“It was a horrible accident… ”
Well Aurora, actually, yes you ARE trying to justify it. You’re calling it an accident.
“Meanwhile, autopsy results indicate the knife wound to Young’s throat is consistent with an attack from behind.”
Sometimes you have to ask yourself why it is that you are making excuses for someone who cut another human’s throat from behind… that doesn’t sound like an accident to me. It sounds to me like murder. And when your excuse for murdering another person is “he came on to me”, you sink to a new low level of disgustingness.
But what about you, Aurora? When you start making excuses for evil, it can make you evil in turn. And that is exactly what you are doing here.
You need to ask yourself, Aurora, if you are willing to sell your soul to evil just to make excuses and try to justify someone else’s murder of a gay man?
First of all,you have absolutely no idea what you are talking about. if you have read any of the news coverage about the case of Jeffrey and Westly, you would know that Jeffrey was awoken in a vehicle with his clothes removed from his body and Wes on top of him.Jeff then faught his way out from under him only to be attacked with a knife.He defended himself! This autopsy states “mostly consistent” with a wound from the back. That does not by any means, mean definately from the back. And just so you know there are numerous members of wes’s own social group that have heard him actually brag about raping men while they were unconcious.
There is so much more to this than you are telling. Before you start ranting about selling your soul and evil, I suggest you at least be honest about the circumstances that you are referring to. Obviously it is impossible for you to even entertain the idea that someone who is gay could ever do anything wrong, EVER.That’s just reverse prejudice. Being gay does not give you the right to commit acts on other people without their consent any more than any one else.There are people who do wrong in all walks of life.
At least make an attempt to get the facts before you make your judgements. And if you’re going to tell the story, don’t deliberately leave things out.
Jenny, your own comment suffers from unsubstantiated accusations and gossip.
“if you have read any of the news coverage about the case of Jeffrey and Westly, you would know…”
You have not cited a single news story that supports your claims.
Furthermore, you seem to be judging the situation solely from the claims of the alleged murderer. And murder is not a legitimate form of self-defense against rape. “Mostly consistent” would seem to agree with the claims of the prosecution.
“And just so you know there are numerous members of wes’s own social group that have heard him actually brag…”
Your claim is not substantiated from any news sources, and instead is based upon third-party gossip about friends’ gossip about someone’s bragging. That’s hardly reliable evidence.
“Obviously it is impossible for you to even entertain the idea …”
You presume to know how other people think — that’s strawman argumentation.
“Being gay does not give you the right to commit acts on other people without their consent any more than any one else.”
That comment represents character assassination and blatant bigotry — accusing all gay people of thinking alike and raping other people.
“At least make an attempt to get the facts before you make your judgements.”
You have failed to provide any substantiated facts.
Judge not, Jenny, lest you be judged by your own standards.
It amazes me how quick some people are to excuse away violence against gay people.
I’ve been involved with the Young/Kizewski murder trial since the very beginning. I knew both well, probably better than any of you can truthfully say, and I can say with full confidence that Jeff’s telling the truth. Those who truly knew Wes would recognize this very clearly. I’ve been at the hearings, and I’ve heard what’s been said. The attack was consistent with an attack from behind, but could very easily have come from the front. I must say, this really isn’t anything any of you should be concerning yourselves with, because it’s none of your business. This was in no way a hate crime, Wes and Jeff were friends, Jeff had gay friends, and had no problem with gay people.
If all you know is from the Stevens Point Journal, I suggest you keep your poorly informed opions to yourselves because if you’re not careful, you’re bound to hurt someone with what you say. Wes and Jeff both still have family and friends that care very much for them, and if you have any shred of decency, you’d stop this horrible gossiping immediately.
Laine,
I was a good friend of Young’s when he was living here in New Mexico. He stayed at my house on a few occasions. I spent time with him just about every other day for months and months. I found him to be a good hearted, funny, outgoing, loving person. I’m trying my hardest to follow this trial, but being all the way over here in Albuquerque, it’s proving to be very difficult. I have made contact with numerous publications and also with the district attorney’s office. Most of what I’m hearing could be labeled as hearsay, but overall it’s still consistent information. I too want to know the TRUTH about what happened and why. I don’t want to stick my foot in my mouth and have Jeffery just thrown away. I’d like to give this young man the benefit of a fair trial. However, I just can’t bring myself to believe anything that is being said about Wes. If you know anything or if you are willing to help me out with getting some insight, I’d be very grateful. If you could please contact me by e-mail, or perhaps by phone that would be wonderful. A lot of Wes’ friends are very hurt, confused and still needing closure. We all want to know what happened.
So, if you could please contact me, my e-mail address is JolojoT@aol.com.
As someone whose had forensic training and worked for the LAPD, I also know that JK is accusing the dead of RAPING him or attempting to.
This is a common defense when a gay man is killed.
If this wasn’t premeditated, then WHY and HOW did JK have a knife already available to use as a weapon?
JK is the parolee.
JK dumped WY’s body in a landfill to have it found later.
He didn’t report alleged assault to the police. He didn’t try to simple get away without committing such horrible, EXCESSIVE and permanent violence.
I would also like to know the physical differences (if any) between these young men.
I’ve had a hell of a time trying to find information from any of the news services in Wisconsin.
So any of you defending the KILLER here, you DON’T have any substantiation that this was a ‘justifiable homicide of self defense’.
Wesley shouldn’t be put on trial, with no one to speak for him but his dead body, the condition and place it was left in.
THAT’S how us forensics people look at evidence.
We can be cold and analytical that way.