Comments on: “Trans” Teen Gunned Down http://www.queerty.com/trans-teen-gunned-down-20080226/ Free of an agenda. Except that gay one. Wed, 15 Feb 2012 03:34:31 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Gary http://www.queerty.com/trans-teen-gunned-down-20080226/#comment-42435 Gary Fri, 29 Feb 2008 08:46:39 +0000 http://www.queerty.com/trans-teen-gunned-down-20080226/#comment-42435 I feel horrible about the fact that we can't feel comfortable enough to walk down the street without fearing death or bodily harm. I also think it's sad that in this age, we have to use words like "the Christians" or "the republicans" like it's supposed to be the antithesis of the word "Gay". I, for one, can consider myself a "Gay Christian", and I don't think that it's an oxymoron, I think the two need to go hand in hand, after all, we can't forget that someone created us, and we were created this way for a reason, and it shouldn't be negative. By the "right-wing" mentality attacking my lifestyle, they are dividing our country even more than it already is, but aren't we feeding that divide by attacking them? That's not what equality was supposed to mean, and those that started our civil rights movements would be turning over in their graves right now if they knew equality would come at this price. I've been thinking about this for a while, and it's painfully obvious that by attacking each other, rather than working together for a solution, we will only end up the Divided States of America, and that's not a place I want to live. There should be no need for marches and parades if we're truly equal. If we're truly equal, then we need to go about life as if the word "minority" doesn't exist, rather than celebrating trying to out-differentiate ourselves. Life isn't meant to be a competition in this way... I hope the soul of Simmie and all the other's affected by this, can rest easy now. I know I may rant, but nothing will improve unless both sides of the equality argument are willing to make these changes. I feel horrible about the fact that we can’t feel comfortable enough to walk down the street without fearing death or bodily harm.

I also think it’s sad that in this age, we have to use words like “the Christians” or “the republicans” like it’s supposed to be the antithesis of the word “Gay”. I, for one, can consider myself a “Gay Christian”, and I don’t think that it’s an oxymoron, I think the two need to go hand in hand, after all, we can’t forget that someone created us, and we were created this way for a reason, and it shouldn’t be negative.

By the “right-wing” mentality attacking my lifestyle, they are dividing our country even more than it already is, but aren’t we feeding that divide by attacking them? That’s not what equality was supposed to mean, and those that started our civil rights movements would be turning over in their graves right now if they knew equality would come at this price.

I’ve been thinking about this for a while, and it’s painfully obvious that by attacking each other, rather than working together for a solution, we will only end up the Divided States of America, and that’s not a place I want to live.

There should be no need for marches and parades if we’re truly equal. If we’re truly equal, then we need to go about life as if the word “minority” doesn’t exist, rather than celebrating trying to out-differentiate ourselves. Life isn’t meant to be a competition in this way…

I hope the soul of Simmie and all the other’s affected by this, can rest easy now. I know I may rant, but nothing will improve unless both sides of the equality argument are willing to make these changes.

]]> By: Kola http://www.queerty.com/trans-teen-gunned-down-20080226/#comment-42095 Kola Wed, 27 Feb 2008 09:42:32 +0000 http://www.queerty.com/trans-teen-gunned-down-20080226/#comment-42095 'found himself dead' How does one find themselves dead? Also what does 'dressed to the nines' mean? feather boa? tutu and tiara? Why did you also refer to a murdered transgendered young woman as 'he'?? I think journalism is not really for you. Is English your first language? This was an appalling hate crime and I hope the queer community in America will not let it pass unnoticed. ‘found himself dead’ How does one find themselves dead? Also what does ‘dressed to the nines’ mean? feather boa? tutu and tiara?

Why did you also refer to a murdered transgendered young woman as ‘he’?? I think journalism is not really for you. Is English your first language?

This was an appalling hate crime and I hope the queer community in America will not let it pass unnoticed.

]]> By: Ron http://www.queerty.com/trans-teen-gunned-down-20080226/#comment-42052 Ron Wed, 27 Feb 2008 00:09:56 +0000 http://www.queerty.com/trans-teen-gunned-down-20080226/#comment-42052 "found himself dead" is a flippant, rude comment that denotes contempt for the subject. You might write that about a robber that gets shot by his own gun, but for a gay website to refer to the victim of a hate crime this way is bizarre. “found himself dead” is a flippant, rude comment that denotes contempt for the subject. You might write that about a robber that gets shot by his own gun, but for a gay website to refer to the victim of a hate crime this way is bizarre.

]]> By: Bill Perdue http://www.queerty.com/trans-teen-gunned-down-20080226/#comment-42047 Bill Perdue Tue, 26 Feb 2008 23:26:51 +0000 http://www.queerty.com/trans-teen-gunned-down-20080226/#comment-42047 There have been three murders so far this year and who knows how many beatings. The rate will very likely jump, if the past is any indication, by 10% to 15% just because it’s an election year. During election periods everyone seems to gang up on us,. As they always do the christians and other hate groups are ramping up their hate campaign in their churches and on TV and radio. The Republicans, as usual, are going to scapegoat us and lie about our agenda for equality. And the Democrats, as usual, are running away from us as fast as their little legs will carry them. To prevent the Republicans from claiming that they’re GLBT friendly they gutted ENDA and then flushed it and the Matthew Sheppard Hate Crimes Bill down the toilet. And as always, , the Democrats refuse to repeal Billarys DOMA and DADT. Their actions send a message about us that street thugs hear loud and clear, and it’s a message that emboldened the thugs who butchered Lawrence King, Sanesha Stewart and Simmie Williams. The thugs know that they have friends in high places; priests and pastors who say that their mythical god hates us, Democrats who’ve washed their hands of us to that the bigots won’t think they support our agendas (as if) and Republicans willing to let a few more of us die to get catholic, baptist and mormon votes. They’re all despicable. We have a long time till November and we’ll have to watch each others backs because it’s obvious that the christians, the Republicans and the Democrats don’t give a rat’s ass about us. There have been three murders so far this year and who knows how many beatings. The rate will very likely jump, if the past is any indication, by 10% to 15% just because it’s an election year.

During election periods everyone seems to gang up on us,. As they always do the christians and other hate groups are ramping up their hate campaign in their churches and on TV and radio. The Republicans, as usual, are going to scapegoat us and lie about our agenda for equality. And the Democrats, as usual, are running away from us as fast as their little legs will carry them. To prevent the Republicans from claiming that they’re GLBT friendly they gutted ENDA and then flushed it and the Matthew Sheppard Hate Crimes Bill down the toilet. And as always, , the Democrats refuse to repeal Billarys DOMA and DADT.

Their actions send a message about us that street thugs hear loud and clear, and it’s a message that emboldened the thugs who butchered Lawrence King, Sanesha Stewart and Simmie Williams. The thugs know that they have friends in high places; priests and pastors who say that their mythical god hates us, Democrats who’ve washed their hands of us to that the bigots won’t think they support our agendas (as if) and Republicans willing to let a few more of us die to get catholic, baptist and mormon votes. They’re all despicable.

We have a long time till November and we’ll have to watch each others backs because it’s obvious that the christians, the Republicans and the Democrats don’t give a rat’s ass about us.

]]> By: andrew http://www.queerty.com/trans-teen-gunned-down-20080226/#comment-42015 andrew Tue, 26 Feb 2008 18:05:48 +0000 http://www.queerty.com/trans-teen-gunned-down-20080226/#comment-42015 Hey guys, Eric and Alan, you're not the only people who found my phrasing offensive. I'm sorry you feel that way, but it wasn't my intention. We're here to entertain and inform - perhaps the line got crossed on this one, but it's not a jab Simmie, for sure. With regard to the story being reported: I wonder if the presidential candidates will release a statement on this death as they did for King, who was shot at school, not on the town. Does the context make King's murder more press friendly or is there something else? xo AB Hey guys,
Eric and Alan, you’re not the only people who found my phrasing offensive. I’m sorry you feel that way, but it wasn’t my intention. We’re here to entertain and inform – perhaps the line got crossed on this one, but it’s not a jab Simmie, for sure.

With regard to the story being reported: I wonder if the presidential candidates will release a statement on this death as they did for King, who was shot at school, not on the town. Does the context make King’s murder more press friendly or is there something else?

xo
AB

]]> By: praenomenal http://www.queerty.com/trans-teen-gunned-down-20080226/#comment-42013 praenomenal Tue, 26 Feb 2008 18:01:11 +0000 http://www.queerty.com/trans-teen-gunned-down-20080226/#comment-42013 Eric, there is nothing disrespectful here that I have seen. At least it is being reported. I have not heard much on this at all. Eric, there is nothing disrespectful here that I have seen. At least it is being reported. I have not heard much on this at all.

]]> By: Eric http://www.queerty.com/trans-teen-gunned-down-20080226/#comment-42008 Eric Tue, 26 Feb 2008 17:24:12 +0000 http://www.queerty.com/trans-teen-gunned-down-20080226/#comment-42008 Agreed. Using phrases like "found himself dead" is a disrespectful tone -- not to mention the placement of a piece "memorializing" a death in the LGBT community is right smack next to the asinine series of shiny, shirtless guys with abs. Agreed. Using phrases like “found himself dead” is a disrespectful tone — not to mention the placement of a piece “memorializing” a death in the LGBT community is right smack next to the asinine series of shiny, shirtless guys with abs.

]]> By: Alan Fleming http://www.queerty.com/trans-teen-gunned-down-20080226/#comment-41985 Alan Fleming Tue, 26 Feb 2008 15:25:55 +0000 http://www.queerty.com/trans-teen-gunned-down-20080226/#comment-41985 "Found himself dead" WTF? not only is that technically impossible, it's pretty irreverent considering you're talking about a homicide here. What's wrong with "was killed"? “Found himself dead”

WTF? not only is that technically impossible, it’s pretty irreverent considering you’re talking about a homicide here.

What’s wrong with “was killed”?

]]> By: todd http://www.queerty.com/trans-teen-gunned-down-20080226/#comment-41984 todd Tue, 26 Feb 2008 15:17:13 +0000 http://www.queerty.com/trans-teen-gunned-down-20080226/#comment-41984 Welcome to George Bush's Amurica. Welcome to George Bush’s Amurica.

]]> By: emb http://www.queerty.com/trans-teen-gunned-down-20080226/#comment-41973 emb Tue, 26 Feb 2008 13:52:00 +0000 http://www.queerty.com/trans-teen-gunned-down-20080226/#comment-41973 Again we see the tragic result of the vile crap spewed by people like Ken Hutcherson (“God hates soft men” and “God hates effeminate men.” Hutcherson went on to say, “If I was in a drugstore and some guy opened the door for me, I’d rip his arm off and beat him with the wet end.”--Queerty, below). Do these mullahs not understand that words have power? Do they think they can spout venomous hatred to their merry hearts' content with no consequence? The rightwing in this country, aided by the theocons, neocons, and other cons of the bush administration, have created a nation where this sort of horrible, heartbreaking tragedy can happen, and there is blood on all their hands. Again we see the tragic result of the vile crap spewed by people like Ken Hutcherson (“God hates soft men” and “God hates effeminate men.” Hutcherson went on to say, “If I was in a drugstore and some guy opened the door for me, I’d rip his arm off and beat him with the wet end.”–Queerty, below). Do these mullahs not understand that words have power? Do they think they can spout venomous hatred to their merry hearts’ content with no consequence? The rightwing in this country, aided by the theocons, neocons, and other cons of the bush administration, have created a nation where this sort of horrible, heartbreaking tragedy can happen, and there is blood on all their hands.

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