One of Scottland's best-loved comedians jumped by teen thugs in possible gay-bashing

[Ian David]

Gay comic jumped by teenage thugs
Wednesday 25 October, 2006 10:17



One of Scotland’s best-loved gay comics is in hospital following a mindless attack on one of Edinburgh’s buses, reports the Evening News.

Bruce Devlin is facing major surgery on a shattered jaw after being kicked and punched unconscious by teenagers. Though unprovoked, it’s unclear whether the attack was homophobic.

The 30-year old comedian was set upon by the four thugs on a number 22 Lothian Bus shortly before midnight on Friday. Devlin had just compered a night at The Stand in Edinburgh and was making his way home.

<snip>

"It is believed to have started on a bus and then carried on into Henderson Street, where he received facial injuries. He says that he has been assaulted by a group of youths but was knocked unconscious and can't remember much about the attack. He's given descriptions for all four suspects, all believed to be 16.

<snip>

Devlin has completed an impressive number of Edinburgh Festival Fringe shows including ‘Three Fat Ladies: A Murder Mystery’, ‘Stand Up Scotland’ and ‘One Fat Lady: Diva to Dosser’ a semi-autobiographical comedy play. He does regular slots at The Stand’s topical satire show A Kick up the Tabloids and also at Oot, the club's gay night.

<snip>

“The very clear fact is that people are influenced by the pervasisve homophobia of religious leaders and others in the public eye. If these kids are looking for a target to pick on, the actions of the church and the right wing gives them a likely victim. It's time they took responsibility and stopped peddling hate.

More:
http://uk.gay.com/headlines/10554

[sui generis]

1. Well, not to advocate violence or anything

but if that's the language being spoken then we should speak it, and fluently. All it would take is breaking one of those fuckers in half to make the next 100 "thugs" think twice, and maybe actually save someone's life. Better yet, break two of them in half, no coupon required.

Why on earth aren't we learning to fight better? It's ridiculous that the most vulnerable among us are the ones who abhor meaningful defense the most. Me: big evil. I must look like I eat kittens for breakfast or something. Nobody ever picks on me. Dammit.

[Ian David]

3. Armed Gays Don't Get Bashed: PinkPistols.org

http://www.pinkpistols.org

[sui generis]

5. but in Scotland civilians can't do concealed carry

Anyway, a violation even here if carrying into a bar.

Isn't it funny, you can carry a frigging gun in Texas, but if you're caught carrying a dildo, you're going downtown for booking.

Yee haw! Don't leave home with it.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

7. thats very blame the victim mentality

there are many reasons one may not want to be violent or armed...be it ethical or religious or even a desire to believe that the world isnt a shithole..

also he may just not have the ability to throw off three men even if he was trained at martial arts

[sui generis]

8. that's a bit judgemental lioness

I just expressed a wish that more of us knew how to take care of ourselves, whether they chose to or not.

Desire doesn't change reality. I am not a Ghandi pacifist. Submitting to bullying doesn't work unless your bully has a conscience, which most bullies do not have.

However, having the OPTION to defend oneself and choosing not to use it is better than having no option at all.

Finally, if I had to trade between living to be old with a maimed leg or missing eye because of my ethics, and having to live with the regret that I provided such a maiming to an attacker who had no ethics or conscience, I would choose my own gene line to defend.

I suspect since he is a Scotsman that he probably did put up a fight. I can also tell you as a man in his prime that if a 16 year old attacked me I would have to consider carefully how much damage I'd inflict on a child like that. But I would not take a beating, and if the coroner came for me they would not find me alone.

Ethically speaking, I choose to preserve my enlightened bootay by whatever means required of the moment. :P

[The Brethren]

10. I think more of us should learn

to take care of ourselves. I was brought up to not let others push me around. I was also brought up to be polite and rational. However, there is noting rational about violence. If you can talk your way out of it and no one gets hurt - great, but that doesn't always work. We should be encouraged to defend ourselves anyway we can. I've never been assaulted for being gay. However, I have been threatened and assaulted. And up to more recently, I've dealt with it by trying to stay calm and trying not to become angry. But I've changed over time. The last time I dealt with it, which happened with a stranger at night, I turned the table and stood up to him. Not a very rational thing to do; he was bigger then me and I was by myself. But fear and anger can make a very powerful combination. To my surprise he ran to his car and took off. I was lucky esp. considering I have never hit anyone before. But I am tired of other people thinking that it is ok to hurt innocent people, myself included. I don't know the right way to actually hit someone if there is one, but I do know if anyone were to actually do that again, I would defend myself anyway I need to and wouldn't think twice about it.

I particularly feel awful incases like this where gay men are being singled out and viciously beaten for being gay. And it usually involves a group of males vs. a gay man by himself. The perpetrators in these cases are cowards.

[Ian David]

12. Unfortunately for me, at moments of high anxiety, my lower back spasms and locks-up.

If faced with an un-avoidable fight, I'd have about thirty seconds to do as much damage as I could, before being rendered completely immobile.

And then I would have to flee somewhere, because after that comes the vomiting.

So, if you ever find a badly beaten Republicker with someone else's vomit on him-- that might have been my handiwork.

It's a good idea for everyone who is a member of a group that may be singled-out as targets of violence to be armed.

And armed doesn't necessarily mean guns or even knives.

For example, when out in public, especially at night or when you're alone, at least have your car keys out, with the tip sticking out between your fingers.

[The Brethren]

15. You know

there's a lot you can do in 30 seconds. Just teasing. Anxiety attacks can affect us in so many ways. But vomiting may not be such a bad weapon. Most people are so repulsed by it, your attacker might just run off screaming. :) I think sometimes, aside from cases where there's a group of them and they know they have you out numbered, that a lot attackers assume they have power if they think you intimidated by them...or they think you're just crazier then they are....that can work too.

Then there's always the jerks who just don't get it. I once had a little problem with a stranger while I was in my car one night alone He drove up next to me and started with: "hey sweetheart how ya doing tonight?" and kept trying to get into my car. It took almost running him over in reverse to get him away from me. And then he tailgated me almost to the police station, flashing his lights and beeping his horn, before he realized I wasn't pulling over. Sometimes if you have nothing else to arm yourself with, it can help to have a lot of attitude......and quick reflexes.

[Ian David]

16. I've been told, that if you're attacked by a group...

and you can't get away, that the best strategy is to take down the strongest one, or the leader, first.

Taking the "big guy" hostage until the peons follow your demands to run away and desert their "leader" is oh, so pleasing.

The only sad thing is you won't be there to see the reunion when the ringleader confronts his "friends."

[The Brethren]

20. I've been told the same thing.

I'm not quite sure if that would work with me though. If you saw me in person, I don't look by any means intimidating unless the other person is 3 and a half feet tall and 50 lbs. But then maybe I could threaten the leader to give him a make-over in front of his manly pals and pull out my purse. Then he could go back to the ringleader with a soft Sierra Sands blush and Electric Orchid lipstick.

[Ian David]

21. You should then either be armed with SOMEthing or "cast a giant shadow." n/t

[The Brethren]

23. LOL

what, my blush and lipstick aren't good enough? Most male bullies would squeal if you even touched then with make-up. I could also tell them "Sistah you would look so fine in a red satin dress. You just need to learn how to work those hips." Nah, that would probably cost me a few limbs. And I'll forget about the giant shadow...not even a chance. :) So I'm back to quick reflexes unless I break down and start packing a little Nancy Reagan pistol.

Or I could do as one of my uncles has suggested - his hobby is to collect guns...to keep a shotgun on hand. According to him, all you have to do is pull one out and reload it, and whoever it is, will be out of there in 2 seconds. Except I'm just not picturing myself with a shotgun unless they came in mini size.

[Jamastiene]

24. My legs shake.

I know how it feels to some degree, because I vomit afterward too. It's horrible. I even have a hard time with confrontation that is nonviolent. Some of us just lovers more than fighters. :pals:

[sui generis]

26. it's just practice

Over the years (and years) I have had broken toes, fingers, torn muscles, gotten black eyes, bruises, sprains and of course blisters and callouses and all the other side effects of regular sparring, including a splendid body I wouldn't trade anyone for. You will doubtlessly heal - a little pain is just inconvenience, not worth throwing up for. Learning even just basic defense takes away that overreaction of adrenaline - all of a sudden your body is wiser than your mind, and it will remember what to do if you trust it. That's how we all got our gene lines here, after all.

And if you are ever more serious about it just for sports sake, the first time you spar, you have that sick feeling; fear of pain, of not knowing what to do, of feeling clumsy and uncoordinated. When you get confident, the fear goes away. Pain won't kill ya - and we humans are really really tough. Remember, the other guy is probably sick with fear of pain too; play that up. Bullies don't WANT you to fight, they WANT you to be so scared that you throw up. Don't accommodate them. Tell the bully you're going to rip his face off and use it to wipe your ass with, then attempt to do exactly that.

He'll probably go looking for easier prey, no violence required.

Preserving yourself is one thing, but what if you were with somebody, like a child or friend, who really really needed you to be there for them? I think you'd be a lion Jamastiene.

And you might just have to mail the guy his nads back when you were done with him. ;)

[Jamastiene]

27. Awwww, thank you.

I do tend to be protective of my friends, and especially any woman that I have those special feelings for. I don't seem to have the same nervous reaction then. Then, actually, I need to be pulled back before I go after someone bigger than me. I wonder why that is. Do you understand the difference in the reactions?

And again, thank you for your kind words and encouragement. :hug:

[sui generis]

29. the difference is

That we tend to not really believe in ourselves and "go for broke" to protect ourselves (whether that is fighting OR fleeing as your judgement of the situation warrants). However, if you add in those primal urges to protect what we love (and that includes yourself) and we can be positively supernatural.

That's why mom really can lift a car off her kid's leg in an emergency; why if a kid or loved one is involved we tend to dig deeper into our abilities to preserve ourselves and our loved ones.

What's the secret? Don't be afraid; or plan to else be afraid later. Be wise though - know if it is indeed better to run, especially if by yourself, but also correctly size up the situation.

If you're pushed into a corner and can't run, fear will do nothing but get in the way of you prevailing. Be afraid later. Have your nerves and nausea later, along with an ice cream sunday or a good stiff drink. And take no prisoners. And if you do vomit, stomach acid and eyes don't mix well AT ALL. It's a great weapon if you can use it.

I am reminded of an unfortunate story of an older disabled guy who lived alone with his parrot - he was broken into at his house while he was there, attacked even though he cooperated, and fought the robber long and hard through several rooms, before the robber finally got lucky and knocked him out and then killed him. But the parrot also fought, long and hard - evidenced by feathers in several rooms, clumps of the attacker's scalp and hair, shreds of skin, and a gobbet of flesh in the parrot's talons and beak. Sadly, the robber also killed the parrot by stabbing it with a fork - but that bird and that man would have probably been killed anyway.

The upside of this sad story: there was enough DNA in the parrot's talons to positively ID the attacker and put him away for life, not to mention his scars. And that bird was determined to protect his friend and either kill the guy thirty times his size or else die trying. Being afraid just gets in the way.

Speaking of wise wild animals! SO and I romp have to be careful with being goofy and the tickling contests these days - we have a delicate tiny little guard cat ("Jazz"), who insists on breaking what she views as fights. Even after the fight is "broken up" (with laughter) she'll bite each of us and yowl and then flounce off. Which is really funny, because my chihuahua (Tinkerbell) routinely breaks up the cat fights between mortal enemies F. Atsokatso (Chinook) and B. AtshitKatso (Jazz).

:hi:

[Solo_in_MD]

2. Lets not forget that favorite of the yobs over there "happy slapping"

[Ian David]

4. I had to look that one up...

Happy slapping
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Happy slapping is a fad in which an unsuspecting victim is attacked while an accomplice records the assault (commonly with a camera phone or a smartphone). The name can refer to any type of violent assault, not just slapping, even rape and sexual assaults have been classified as "happy slapping". Within the UK, where the term is used much more frequently than in the U.S., it is associated with the ned/chav sub-culture.

Happy slapping filming attacks seem to be common in modern bullying, and not unique to happy slapping. The core defining feature of happy slapping is an effort by the attacker to make the assault seem like play, though some happy slappers have indulged in extreme violence.

Often those found performing such activities will say they were just "happy slapping", asserting that they were just kidding.

<snip>

Happy Slapping is known to have started in South London,<1><2> in a format known as "Slap TV", where a happy-slapping video would be recorded, and then watched over by dozens of people like a TV show. The first newspaper article to ever use the phrase 'happy slapping' was "Bullies film fights by phone", published in The Times Educational Supplement on January 21, 2005, in which reporter Michael Shaw described teachers' accounts of the craze in London schools.

More:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Happy_slapping

[goddess40]

6. how about slapping a huge fine or jail time on for that crap

I have begun to really hate those picture phones - there is so much potential for good but do people use it that way - no
I'm waiting for the first lawsuit to hit our school district for some kid taking a nasty picture in the locker room or rest room and putting it on the web.

It sick enough to do the stuff they do but it's worse that they feel the need and the arrogance to record their "great accomplishments" for prosperity. It just shows how justified these people feel they are in the hateful actions they do.

[The Brethren]

9. My best wishes go to Bruce Devlin in his recovery.

These crimes are cruel and senseless. And to think the attackers are believed to be 16 yr olds. Think about what they will be like when they are older. I'm not a believer that people mellow with age. I hope they catch all of them and hold them accountable.

[Ian David]

11. Not to minimize or excuse, but it may not have been gay-bashing.

It would not be the first time that a comedian's mouth has gotten him or her in trouble-- gay or straight.

I hope for Mr. Devlin's speedy recovery, and that the punks are brought to severe Justice.

[The Brethren]

13. That's true.

But to be honest, the story reminds of so many cases of gay bashing. In fact, there was a very similar story not too long again of a gay man, who was also an entertainer, who was badly beaten by a group of males while walking home late at night. That incident was determined to be motivated because he was gay. Sorry, but I don't remember more details like where or when it happened.

And yes, either way it is deplorable. I hope if there were witnesses in this case that they come forward so they can find them.

[Ian David]

14. I think it was Kevin Aviance

Shocking, But Not Surprising
The Kevin Aviance assault proves gay bashing is alive and well in New York City
by Tricia Romano
June 19th, 2006 7:04 PM



More:
http://www.villagevoice.com/nyclife/0625,romano,73589,15.html

[The Brethren]

17. That's the story

damn you're quick.

"The cops came but couldn't find the suspect, and the case was closed that night, recalls Short" That is very odd. I've never known of a case where the police have closed it that same night w/o finding a suspect(s). I was under the impression they were still looking for them. Do you think the police involved didn't care because he was gay? Or is that how they handle cases in N.Y.C.?

[Ian David]

18. I'm not sure. The NYPD have fake gays...

But the cops were looking for drug dealers, not gay-bashers.

NY Undercover Cops Nab Gay Basher
By: ANDY HUMM
10/20/2006

Police arrested Tyrone George, 20, for a hate crime midday on October 16 in Union Square Park when he attacked two undercover male officers who were posing as "snuggling paramours"while on the lookout for drug activity, the New York Post reported. George called the tow cops "homos," ordered them out of the park, and called them "faggots," then threatened to "to assault them and spat on the sergeant's foot," the newspaper said. While being placed under arrest, the suspect allegedly fought back, saying he did not want "faggots touching him," according to court papers.

More:
http://www.gaycitynews.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=17357995&BRD=2729&PAG=461&dept_id=568857&rfi=6


See also:

Thursday, October 12. 2006
Queer Bashing in New York: We've got a long way to go.

I just read a post on Fastlad about a horrifc gay bashing in New York City.

On Sunday night Michael J. Sandy was lured to a car park frequented by gay men in Brooklyn. There, four men jumped him. In the scuffle that followed he was forced onto the Belt Parkway where he was struck by a car that didn’t stop.

My head is swirling with anger, frustration, sadness and pain. I'm trying to reconcile all of this this with the fact that yesterday was National Coming Out Day, that this is one of many recent highly publicized bashings, that we continue to think and act as if we are much safer and freer than we are, and wonder what it will take for things to change.

Meanwhile, for some reason there seems to be this collective misbelief around the world that the U.S. is much more open and safe than it actually is. Yes, all things being relative we could argue that folks in the U.S. are much better off than in many places; after all, being queer isn't illegal. But then again homosexuality is outlawed in Singapore but they're not tying people to fences and setting them aflame 100 miles from nowhere.
I can't count how many times I've heard things like "well at least in the US.. you can be open," from readers or friends outside around the world. Then when we start talking about the realities, when I bring up specific incidences of gay hate crimes and queer bashings, they're shocked and don't believe me until I send them some gay bashing news reports.

You would think after the tragic murder of Matthew Shepard or the recent high-profile bashing of the international performer Kevin Aviance and the countles others, the world would know that we still have a long way to go to feel open and safe in New York and the U.S.A.

More:
http://bigqueer.com/index.php?/archives/183-Queer-Bashing-in-New-York-Weve-got-a-long-way-to-go..html


Defined tags for this entry: american hate, anti-gay, gay bashing, hate crime, new york city brooklyn,

[The Brethren]

19. Quicker still..........

The more I read, the more the stories kept stacking up. It just doesn't seem to end. It's very disturbing. I checked out different links off the ones you gave and I couldn't access 2 specifically about Kevin - one wasn't available and one I just signed up for (NYT) to access and have to wait a little while to access the article. But one caption read: "Four charged in hate crime attack on gay singer", so I'm going to assume they did catch his attackers or at least found 4 suspects.

On the Tyrone George story - talk about an assailant picking the wrong people to target.

I also liked the title for one story in The BIG QUEER BLOG -- "Be ANGRY, and then be Proud" This is probably a silly question, but as I'm reading these stories, I just keep wondering why? Do these attackers think that beating up gay men or gay women for that matter which also happens, do they actually think it will make us go away or simply disappear? I know, a question that probably can't be answered. It's just so f*cking ludicrous.

Thanks for all the articles btw. If I ever need someone to help with research with a sharp eye and a quick mind....I'll be waving my pink flag your way. :D

[Ian David]

22. Why?

1) To prove to their buddies and/or themselves how "not gay" they are.
2) They'll do ANYTHING for the opportunity to be close to gay people.
3) They're attracted to gay people, but feel angry and ashamed-- so they turn that anger outward toward the target of their attraction.
4) They've been taught that it's okay by the likes of Bush, Dobson, Limbaugh, etc.
5) They see gay people as a weak and easy target, and want to inflate their sense of self-importance by picking on someone else.

Take your pick.

This is why we need to add "orientation or perceived orientation" to hate crimes legislation.

Nobody drives around in a pick-up truck saying, "Let's go beat-up some of 'em Gingers!"

[The Brethren]

25. I'll take 1-5

particularly 2 and 3 I've never understood why some straight males will hang out in front of a gay bar at night in their cars to watch gay men come and go. The same straight males who openly state they hate gays and condone violence against us. But this is how they'd rather spend their time. And of course they're not gay.

I agree with you very much about hate crime legislation, but it depends on how it's handled legally. In other words, it can actually work against us depending on your state. In my area for ex. violence against gay people, because that person is gay, is viewed as a "hate-crime" and punishable. However, instead of the perpetrator(s) being charged say as a felony assault where it wasn't viewed as a hate-crime, it's considered in the same manner as a crime of passion and carries a lower sentence. I'm assuming along it's the lines of a person coming home and finding their spouse in bed with someone else, is enraged and assaults them. Which is ironic since any instance where someone goes out of their way to violently attack an innocent person involves a great deal of emotion/passion on their part for whatever reason.

[sui generis]

28. there are a couple of answers to why someone would

hang out and look.

1. Genuine curiosity, not sexual at all.
2. Sexual curiosity but no idea whatsoever of what "the rules" are. Sitting there where people can see you lets them take the initiative to talk, but also ruins the "fantasy" since we can be equally predatory.
3. Predatory curiosity - evaluating which one they think they can roll. Those guys are usually not alone, or parked.

All in all, without "blaming the victim" there are many common sense things we can do to reduce that chance of violence happening. Speaking of bars though, being buzzed really can lower inhibitions and erase judgement and common sense. The world is full of predators, punctuated by a few nice people.

People who are so far out of reality they think they are actually "justified" in attacking someone for being gay are in fact really dangerous people to everyone, not just gays.

That's what hate crimes legislation is supposed to accommodate; not just for the sake of pure punishment but to get those people away from the rest of us. "crimes of passion" are a ridiculous way to split that hair. Crazy is crazy.

[readmoreoften]

30. That's impossible. People can only tell you're gay if you TELL them.

You can't be discriminated against for just walking down the street. How would they know? :sarcasm: