I have to vent - big time

[khashka]

I live in a small Texas town. A couple nights ago a man was shot to death. This is a quiet place. Little violent crime to speak of. Little crime at all. But in the 7 years I've lived here, we've had four murders. Of those four, three of the victims have been gay men. Apparently for being gay.

And you know I wanted to give you guys all the details (one of the paramedics who showed up on the scene is a friend of mine) but I can't. A few minutes ago I was filled with rage, now I just feel numb. I can't think of what to say.


Khash.

[xmas74]

1. If you ever need to talk you are more than welcome

to pm me about it. I do know that crimes of that nature happen more than anyone thinks.

[JimmyJazz]

2. That is horrible! I am so sorry.

I just don't know what to say. :hug:

[Democrat 4 Ever]

3. Welcome to Commander Cuckoobanasas' America. This is exactly

what the neocons, the Christian Taliban and the repugs had in mind when they all joined forces to seize power.

These people are just collateral damage in their quest to get citizens to fall in line and obey.

I'm so sorry for the deaths. When are the people of Texas going to get outraged?

[jandrok]

6. A lot of the people in Texas ARE outraged.

We're like any other state in that regard. It's fallacy to assume that violent acts never occur in "blue" states or areas. Believe me, I'm close enough to the gay community (my brother is gay) to know that there is a real undercurrent of anger and fear at the way the theocracy is attempting to limit rights and freedoms for gay citizens.

Unfortunately, there are still plenty of areas in Texas (as there are in other states) where one has to watch their backs when they are "different" in any way. Racial differences are still a touch point in many small towns for example; Jasper and Vidor stand as living testament to that.

A lot of us here are angry. The question is how do we channel that anger into something productive? I mourn any hate crime, period. It's just all the more reason to work harder for change.

[CrownPrinceBandar]

9. We are becoming what we are supposedly fighting........

The United States of Ameristan.

[GOPBasher]

4. I'm so sorry to hear that!

:cry:

I guess this is life in the fundamentalist Christian theocracy.

[LynzM]

5. Khash, I am so sorry to hear that

I cannot imagine feeling that kind of hatred for someone, based solely on their sexual identity. I'm so sorry this happens, still... :hug:

[Misunderestimator]

7. Holy Shit.... there's a crisis in your town.

3 out of 4?!?

[MissMillie]

8. I feel your rage

:hug:

I'm so sorry this is happening in your home town, or anywhere for that matter. It sucks that it happens at all, but when it hits close to home, it's even tougher to take.

[Redstone]

10. Does anynone know if the murders of the gay guys are related?

Sounds like a town I'd move out of, and sooner rather than later. I'm heterosexual, but still wouldn't feel comfortable in a place like that.

Redstone

[Patiod]

11. Well, didn't your governor suggest recently that they all leave?

and find somewhere "more lenient" after he signed the anti-gay-marriage act?

Seriously, I'm sorry you and your friends are amidst this ugly situation.

Sad to say, it can happen anywhere. I'm in a blue city in an (admittedly purlplish) blue state, with a large and politically active gay community, a place where my gay friends generally feel welcomed and accepted. And where a good friend of mine was beaten to within an inch of his life a few years ago near his house by a mob of teens. Another friend of mine was "mugged" and left with a broken jaw after leaving a bar (in what we've always suspected it was really a gay-bashing even though he's straight). Both are thin, slightly-built, well-dressed guys who were set-upon by a mob of trashy white kids.

[bertha katzenengel]

12. jesus fuck.

Khash, :hug: I'm sorry for your anguish.

[sundog]

13. fuck i just read this

:(

dunno what to say khash :hug:

[katinmn]

14. I'm both shocked and sad.

WTF is up with Texas?

[Debbi801]

15. I am so sorry, Khash...

I really don't know what to say. How horrifying. I think I'd have to leave, rather than feel like I have to watch my back.

:hug:

Debbi

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

16. Well when your governor is standing in churches telling gay folks

to get the fuck out, violence against gays is going to seem alright to the sick sociopath. Contact any and all media you can and connect the dots for them..or..get Fed Phelps to come to town to claim the victims are all rotting in hell. That usually disgusts reasonable people enough to admit there's a problem.

[Wapsie B]

17. OMG.

And I try real hard to prevent calling someplace backwards and narrow-minded.

[sundog]

18. does your local paper report this & if so, how do they report it?

do they conspicuously leave 'gay' out of the article?

[khashka]

19. Thanks for all the support guys and gals

It ain't all bad though. Sometimes tragedy can bring out the best in people. My friend the paramedic (a fundamentalist baptist) who was first on the scene was shocked and outraged. My mother (another fundie) was so horrified she could barely talk about it.

On the other hand I was about ready to put on my "Gender Traitor" T-shirt, strap on my 357 and wander around town walking up to people and saying "wanna fuck with me? Go on, make my day!". Which of course would not be a good thing.

Thanks for reminding me of how many truly decent people there are. I'll take my anger and channel it to find the truly decent people here. Together we'll figure out what to do about our town.

Khash.

[Dukkha]

20. No doubt it was a "Christian" who did it

Claiming to be doing the Lord's work. :mad:

These people enrage me beyond description.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

21. Oh, Khash,

I'm so sorry...I wish there were something I could do besides offer you my friendship and support. Anyone who attacks people because of their sexual orientation is the worst sort of criminal...Mother Teresa said: "If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other." How true that is!

:hug:

[Zuni]

22. Has the offender been caught? Are these perhaps comitted by one man

or one group?

And is there a possibility that these are not hate crimes, but actual serial murders?

[antigone382]

23. That makes me so mad.

I'm sorry that you have to deal with this so close to home. I just don't understand how anyone can learn to hate people whose existence have no negative impact on his or her life enough to want to end theirs. I promise if I was there, I'd be right out there on the streets by your side. :pals:

[Left Is Write]

24. I'm sorry, Khash.

I don't know what to say, so I'll just hug you. :hug: