New Yorkers Rally Around Kevin Aviance

Even though the gay community didn’t exactly rally behind Kevin Aviance during his brutal beating on June 10, it showed its support when droves of men and women marched from the East to West Village Saturday to protest the spike in anti-gay violence — which, according to some reports, increases during gay pride month. Official data shows reported homophobic attacks up to 23 from last year’s 18, though certainly the actual number of violent incidents is much higher. Aviance, meanwhile, was in there among the protesters.

“You can’t keep a good queen down,” Aviance told the crowd. But he warned against meeting violence with violence.

“We can’t fight any of these people with arms and bullets and drama. We have to fight all these people with love, every single day,” he said.

“Stop the violence. Stop the hate. Just love, love, love.”

Towleroad has more photos.

Aviance Leads Rally Against Anti-Gay Attacks [NY1]