Queer Rising will hold a rally to protest and bring awareness to the four recent anti-LGBT violent attacks that have occurred over the past ten days. The rally will be held tomorrow, Thursday, May 16, outside Madison Square Garden at 7:00 PM EDT.
On Monday, Murray Lipp, who runs the hugely popular Gay Marriage USA Facebook page, penned an article in the Huffington Post detailing the attacks — noting they are “a sad reminder that homophobia is still alive and thriving in this city” — and calling for action:
On the afternoon of Sunday, May 5, a gay male couple in their 20s were walking arm-in-arm down Eighth Avenue between 34th Street and 35th Street, within the vicinity of Madison Square Garden, when they were subjected to a brutal anti-gay assault, presumably in the presence of numerous bystanders. The two men allege that they were called “faggots,” knocked to the ground and physically assaulted. Both men received treatment in the hospital. Their attackers, described as a group of up to eight men in their 20s, fled the scene and have not been apprehended as of this writing. (See their descriptions here.)
The second incident also occurred in Manhattan, around West 33rd Street and Ninth Avenue. In the early hours of Friday, May 10, two gay men (reported to be a couple) were subjected to an anti-gay assault. After being refused access to a billiards club, they were subsequently approached and attacked by a group of up to five men who allegedly hurled homophobic abuse and physically beat them. Both of the victims required hospital treatment. Only two of the alleged attackers have thus far been arrested.
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Silence equals tolerance of the unacceptable. We must come together as a community to express a message of strength and defiance to those who would rather see us locked in closets forever. Regardless of sexual orientation, everyone should have the right to walk down the street without fear of being subjected to verbal abuse or physical assault. I call on LGBT leaders, organizations and allies in New York City to come together as one to rally against hate and in support of diversity.
Lipp acknowledges what many LGBT people in New York City (yes, NYC,) feel:
Although I don’t like to ever give in to fear, I must admit that there are times when I will not hold my partner’s hand in public for fear of being verbally or physically assaulted.
Lipp details yet another incident on his new blog:
Meanwhile, ABC Local News today reported on a third posible anti-gay attack in Manhattan. On the evening af May 8th, a gay man was leaving Pieces Bar and attempting to hail a cab when he was assaulted by two men who shouted anti-gay slurs. The victim was not injured in the incident. Pieces Bar is located within working distance of the Stonewall Inn, the birthplace of the American LGBT rights movement.
For details and directions to Thursday’s rally, visit the Queer Rising Facebook event page, which notes:
QUEER RISING — a grassroots organization created to demand full equality for all queer people through nonviolent direct action — invites ALL members of the LGBTQ community and our allies to STAND TOGETHER in a RALLIED RESPONSE to the DUAL HATE-CRIMES that occurred in Midtown NYC on May 5 (outside Madison Square Garden) and May 10 (outside the W.34th St PATH Station).
JOIN THE RALLY: On Thursday May 16, beginning at 7:00pm, Queer Rising and members of the public will rally outside Madison Square Garden (specifically the SW-corner of 7th Avenue and W.33rd Street), demanding attention be paid to the protection of all New Yorkers on MSG vicinity during games, and to denounce any violence against the LGBTQ community. At 8:15pm, a short-list of participating community leaders will speak.
JOIN THE MARCH: After the Rally, we will march through Chelsea, going south along 8th Avenue, ending at Horatio Street/Jackson Square Park.
WHAT TO BRING: Posters declaring your position on anti-violence, safety on the streets, or the Knicks and MSG’s responsibility to denounce anti-gay violence.
ATTENTION: At Madison Square Garden, we will be face-to-face with individuals who may share the same mind-set as the May 5th attackers. Therefore, it is IMPERATIVE that we DO NOT provoke anyone. We will simply be providing information (via flyers and posters) to Knicks fans, informing them of the incident and our demands for safety.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT:
Queer Rising’s Open-Group
www.facebook.com/groups/246156437582/ CONTACT: QueerRising@gmail.com
ENDORSED BY:
New York City Anti-Violence Project (AVP)
www.avp.org
Noting there have actually been four incidences of anti-LGBT violence in the past week, the NYC Anti-Violence Project has issued a community alert:
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 NYC Anti-Violence Project issues Community Alert
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