Victim believes his sexual orientation might have led to attack

[BR_Parkway]

http://www.starnewsonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20090727%2FARTICLES%2F907279957%2F1177

Wilmington | For more than a week, Chaz Housand has wondered what exactly happened to him early on the morning of July 17 when he and a friend were attacked downtown.

He wonders whether the beating, in which he and Chet Saunders were knocked unconscious, took seconds or several minutes. Since it happened on Front Street on a Friday morning, Housand said he wonders who witnessed the beating and whether anyone intervened.

And while he suspects they were attacked because he and Saunders are gay, he doesn’t remember the incident and so can’t be certain.

{snip}

Housand, a recent University of North Carolina Wilmington graduate, said while in college he was involved in clubs which lobbied to change North Carolina’s hate crimes law. But he said he never imagined the issue would affect him directly.
Saunders said the incident has made him reluctant to return downtown at night. “I don’t feel like it’s a safe place,” he said. “I never really expected something like this to happen.”

The comments are incredibly ignorant, I always thought that end of the state was a little more progressive

[imdjh]

1. The comments were rough but some amounted to "What did you expect?"

And a person might have more tactfully addressed the naivete in play.

“I don’t feel like it’s a safe place,” he said. “I never really expected something like this to happen.”

I really don't get this. Why did he feel it was a safe place? Why didn't he expect something like this to happen?

[BR_Parkway]

2. Perhaps when you've gone to school there for 4-5 years and it was one

of your local hangouts - and nothing like this had happened, it would lead one to a false sense of security.

To me, the "what did you expect" comments sound a lot like those folks telling the young lady who was raped that she shouldn't have worn that dress....

[imdjh]

4. I guess you're right. I had to get in the time machine.

I suppose I didn't really understand that my youth and bluster weren't an adequate defense on the streets until I was about 21 (I had been going to bars since I was 17) and got attacked in front of God and everybody outside a gay bar. It wasn't a bashing, it was a crime of opportunity, and my smart mouth and false sense of security got me into more trouble than might have been if I had simply pressed forward.

DId you notice the names of those arrested? I can't honestly recall reading about Chinese guys gay bashing, or even attacking someone. Maybe in LA or SF it wouldn't be surprising, but in NC?

http://www.facebook.com/profile/pic.php?uid=AAAAAQAQsCsqGzXqCeEdRSd2EmXOnwAAAArPGIxRHgcmCIZAA4pRNlk1

[BR_Parkway]

5. That was strange, haven't heard about gang activity there, but I'm on

other end of the state.

Wilmington still seems like a small town atmosphere to me, this all was something more expected in a big city.

[Orsino]

3. Victim believes another's homophobia might have led to attack. n/t