It’s no secret the Human Rights Campaign likes to think of itself as the biggest, most effective and ultimately best gay rights organization in America. The DC-based has pledged support to fighting for the rights of all American gays. Additionally, HRC often joins fights against other forms of injustice. As part of their mission, the non-profit lent its support to the Jena Six, a group of black teens jailed for allegedly beating up a white classmate.
The altercation came after months of rising racial tensions in the small Louisiana town of Jena. Many people, including the editors of this blog, feel that the Jena police force and school authorities were unfair in their handling of the case. The racial bias seems undeniable: white students were barely penalized for their racist actions – such as hanging nooses from a tree on school property – which only perpetuated historic tensions and led to the violent eruption. It could have been prevented, to be sure, but that doesn’t make it any less violent. Nor does the violence make the justice system’s harsh treatment and tenacity any less offensive.
Considering all the layers to this case, it’s no surprise the Jena Six have become the hot activist ticket in recent weeks. And, as such, it’s no surprise HRC stepped out to make their voice heard.
Gay journalist and hate crime survivor Chris Crain, however, wishes Solmonese and HRC had kept their mouths shut.
Addressing supporters in DC yesterday, Solmonese framed his and his organization’s stance in terms of memory:
And I am here because I remember. I remember James Byrd. James was a gentle soul, a special soul. Someone who struggled his whole life with challenges, but was filled with love and was deeply loved in Jasper, Texas.
But James Byrd – at 49 – was savagely beaten, then chained to a pickup truck and literally dragged to his death. He was brutally murdered because he was black.
In this speech, Solmonese harnesses the collective pain of a hate crime. In his mind, homophobic hate crimes follow the same irrational trajectory of racist gay crimes. “Shame on you!” says former Washington Blade editor Chris Crain.
How about we take this to the next level?
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Crain, who has been the victim of anti-gay violence, takes issue with Solmonese’s blind allegiance with the Jena Six:
The “Jena 6” are the type of macho bullies (of all races) who victimize gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender students (of all races) every day outside school gymnasiums across this country. You remember those victims, don’t you Joe? They’re the ones you’re supposed to be defending.
For the head of HRC to claim to stand up on behalf of gay people and compare the perpetrators of this kid’s brutal beating in any remote fashion to the experience of those of us who have actually been victimized by hate crimes, whether because we are black or gay or from any other group, is deeply misguided, politically craven and downright shameful.
Shame on you, Joe. And shame on you, Donna Payne, HRC’s associate director for diversity, for dismissing the severity of the “Jena 6” beating by noting that Justin was “sent to the hospital and released the same day.” Gee Donna, I was never knocked unconscious and was treated and released from the hospital in several hours. Does my hate crime even count with you?
For the head of HRC to claim to stand up on behalf of gay people and compare the perpetrators of this kid’s brutal beating in any remote fashion to the experience of those of us who have actually been victimized by hate crimes, whether because we are black or gay or from any other group, is deeply misguided, politically craven and downright shameful.
Crain goes on to wonder why Solmonese and his organization haven’t spoken up for Michael Sandy, whose alleged killers are currently on trial here in New York. Why didn’t HRC release a statement on Scotty Weaver’s trial? Why do they remain silent on smaller, less trendy injustices and come out full throttle when the whole nation’s watching. Because they want to be the biggest, most effective and, ultimately, best. They do not, of course, make any pretense of being the most morally sound. Or consistent.
nyboytrbl
Is this the same guy who quit his job at the Washington Gay Newspaper and ran off with his hooker boyfriend to Spain? I like him. He is a great writer. That eye looks like the character in the Pee Wee herman movie – Large Marge – when Pee Wee opens the door. Yuk!
Jack Jett
When Queerty gets in bed with Joe Solomese, the end of the world must be near. However, that is why I love this blog so much, they call it the way they see it and don’t mince words.
Just try to be open minded enough to know that if someone disagrees with you on your support of the Jena six does NOT automatically make them a racist.
jack jett
SeaFlood
This is very confusing to me. To me, it seems like… that old trick where a divide is struck between gay and B/black and never the two shall mix. It is not politically craven if he considers that… well… quiet as it is not kept… there are PLENTY of gay B/black people who are really concerned about the Jena 6 case. For Crain to object like this, and I am really, honestly *confused* by his objection — I can’t get through all of this hyper-emotional language to get his point — does make me think his response is partially guided by racism. I mean, I was beaten up and bashed, too — and I am B/black. These kids were completely harassed and they did something none of us would have ever thought about back when… they fought back. I wish between 81-93 that the perceived gay kids like me would have gotten together and whupped some ass instead of allowing ourselves to be isolated and beaten, intimidated, raped, and in one case I know, set on fire.
No, something’s really wrong with what Crain is saying…
“The “Jena 6″ are the type of macho bullies (of all races) who victimize gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender students (of all races) every day outside school gymnasiums across this country.”
But the Jena 6 are B/black. They are not the bullies here anyway. The bullies are the white kids and then white supremacy at the court house.
Maybe there’s something I am just not getting… seriously.
nyboytrbl
Jack – who are you? You sound way cool. All these sites serve a purpose. News like this Chris story – and feedback from cool guys like you!
afrolito
So sick of people like Crain who use their homosexuality as a front for their racism.
Dawster
uhhh the person who got beat to unconsciousness was the white guy.
exactly who is the “bully” here?
if some white kids poke at black kids… that’s bullying and if goes unchecked, it’s the TOWN’S fault (we are talking about KIDS here).
but you can’t play “who’s the bigger victim” when one person gets their feelings hurt or a bruise on the head, and the other gets sent to the hospital unconscious.
dizzyspins
I feel like those who are defending the “Jena 6” are the racist ones, perpetrating the idea that we can’t expect black teens to do anything but resort to violence.
I went to a predominantly Jewish high school. When our football team played away games, the other school would throw pennies and bagels on the field. If we had beaten the crap out of some of them, we would have rightfully gotten arrested.
What those white kids did with the noose is disgusting, but its not the same as a physical assault. And the VICTIM of that assault wasn’t even one of the perpetrators. But i guess we can’t expect black teens to understand the difference, huh?
And shame on Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton and all the other political opportunists (INCLUDING HRC) for equating the Jena 6 with Rosa Parks, James Byrd and other INNOCENT victims.
SeaFlood
Um… let us also recall that a B/black student was jumped and nothing was done about it at all. PHYSICAL assault.
So, what we are saying folks, is that it is ok to physically assault B/black kids, but physically assaulting white kids is a step too far?
How is that not supposed to be steeped in white supremacy exactly?
Dawster
SeaFlood, one black kid was attacked at a party… got a bottle thrown at him. assault? definitely!!
is there a racial bias in the town? obviously!!
but the black kid wasn’t “jumped” and something WAS done about it (it was off school property)… but (i agree with you) it was HARDLY enough.
as mentioned, the town did nothing about it… and the tension grew. it’s STILL much different then 6 guys ganging up on a kid and beating the shit out of him.
not the same.
mozzer13
How is it different, Dawster? This isn’t about who injured who worse, it is about differing punishment based solely on race. A black kid gets beaten up at a party and the group of white kids who beat him aren’t prosecuted. A white kid brandishes a gun at some black kids, they take it away from him, and they’re charged with theft. A group of black kids get into a fight with a white kid in a substantially similar fight as the one at the party, the kid is well enough to go to a school dance a few hours later, and the black kids are charged with attempted murder? Come on! Crain needs to STFU and realize that as long as long as there is racism and sexism out there, there’s going to be homophobia.
Mr. B
It concerns me that Queerty keeps juxtaposing the nooses hanging from the tree with the assault of the white kid. Um, yeah, there were other fights going on, such as the one where the black guy was attacked with a bottle.
The reason people are speaking out on behalf of the Jena Six is because they are being held to a DOUBLE STANDARD. It goes way beyond people getting beaten up and “how badly” they’re beaten up. People are upset over the Jena Six being charged with ATTEMPTED MURDER because apparently tennis shoes are a deadly weapon, while a broken glass bottle apparently isn’t a deadly weapon.
Forget about Al Sharpton for a second. The majority of people in support of the Jena Six aren’t trying to deny that the kids committed a crime by beating someone up. They’re saying–and they’re right–that the charges are trumped up.
“Just try to be open minded enough to know that if someone disagrees with you on your support of the Jena six does NOT automatically make them a racist.”
…because they have black friends, right? Uh-huh.
Jack Jett
afrolito
I have read and reread your comments here and you should be aware that you have called almost everyone a racist. Do you know how fucking offensive that is?
Do you realize that you can be black and still be a racist?
I, for one, am sick of your fucking name calling and holier than thou attitude.
Even your comment about the new Genre cover was that the cover guy was not black.
I would say that you are preaching to the choir, but in your case you are yelling and screaming at the choir and this choir boy is standing up and saying FUCK YOU!!!!!
I would be more impressed with your vile diatribe if you would give your real name like Chris Crain or myself. If you are such the black activist, give us your organizations that you have worked for. Yesterday, I had the verbal shit beat out of me for mentioning my work with getting HIV meds for the African American community.
You somehow have created your own reality that says ANYONE who doesn’t agree with you is a racist. I don’t think when Martin Luther King said “I had a dream”, that he meant, I had a dream that someday everyone who disagreed with a black person should become a persecuted racist.
You are no Rosa Parks honey, in fact you are not even on the fucking bus. Crawl down off your high horse and look in the mirror next time you want to call someone a racist.
Jack Jett
Dawster
it’s totally different. neither are right – i agree… and both groups should be punished harshly, which they were not.
there is a definite racism in the town. and teaching the white kid (there was only one) that throwing a bottle at a black kid is a hate crime would be a good place to start.
the town did not.
however… the main difference i see is that the black kid WALKED AWAY pissed off.
the white kid was unconscious, and they CONTINUED to beat him. that continuation (or beating to the point of unconsciousness, for that matter) is the “unnecessary” portion of the incident… i don’t care who you are.
unless you are defending yourself (6 black guys on one white guy is hardly “defending”), there is no real reason to beat someone until they are unconscious. but they did…
and YES, you are right… the question isn’t who was injured worse, but who was punished worse. i think the town should punish the white kids at the same level as the black kids, not the other way around.
again i state for the third time… “drop all charges or you’re a racist” is NOT successful in mending bridges… it only causes more tension. it will not lead to the end of racism in the long run.
hisurfer
All I can hear is:
I’m a victim too! Look at me! Me me me! I’m a bigger victim, oh yes I am! If you love him it must mean you hate me and you must love me! I’m more a victim than he ever was! I hurt way more! Me me me!
Mr. B
It’s always delightful to hear people howl about how right (and wronged) they are then have the nerve to call someone else “holier than thou” in the same breath. Just sayin’.
Jack Jett
Mr B
You are goddamned right…if someone calls me something like a racist, i am going to stand up and tell that fucker to fuck off.
it is a no win situation…….
Just fucking sayin…………..
Mr. J
fightingwords
Um, Dawster? Did someone beat YOU unconcious? The entire incident in Jena began with NOOSES being hung from a tree merely because black students sat beneath it. For you to equate the understandable and righteous anger many of them felt afterwards with “getting their feelings hurt” simply makes it clear that even in the true, evil face of it, you will deny the existence, virulence, and violence of white supremacy and make excuses for those who participate in it.
fightingwords
More details about what actually happened here:
http://friendsofjustice.wordpress.com/2007/07/02/ineffective-assistance-of-counsel-what-blane-williams-should-have-known/
Dawster
fightingwords, as a matter of fact… yes. i have been beat unconscious. and so far i have seen nothing that deserves 6 on 1 fight, beating him unconscious, AND THEN BEATING HIM SOME MORE.
and i also said that the town handled the noose incident wrong (and the black kids – just one – asked permission to sit under it, permission was granted, and the nooses showed up – meaning the school officials were WELCOMING such tension… which is VERY wrong).
and i also said the town needed to make an example of the white kids.
and i also said that the town is responsible for letting the tension get to this point.
and i also said the town, as a whole, is racist.
you’re just picking and choosing the comments to throw back. that’s okay… Sharpton does the same thing. i couldn’t be more clear OR more balanced on the issue. EVERYONE is at fault. but dropping all the charges is NOT the way to go.
afrolito
Jack Jett
I haven’t called everyone a racist. I won’t apologize for pointing it out, or calling people on their bullshit. Do you know how offensive it is to be the victim of racism?? Don’t think so.
Fuck you, and your “I save the lives of poor blacks infected with HIV” bullshit. Tell it to the “black friends you’ve fought for”. Not impressed.
As far as my statement about the new direction of Genre, anyone can head over to that post to read what I actually said….the truth. Your perception is as twisted as your logic on everything else.
I live in the real world, and have no desire to create a false one. If people are calling you out on your shit, you should examine why. The mirror is a good place to start.
fightingwords
And Jack Jett? “Racist” isn’t a slur. It’s a fact.
Whether you realize it or not, you are holding these children to a different standard, which is, in fact, racist. For all those with so much to say now in defense of the white kid who was beaten (for calling the black kids names? Making other racist comments? No one’s sure, but it seems likely)–where the hell was your outrage when those nooses first went up? Why does that seem to bother you so much LESS? Or the kid attacked with a bottle? Or the kids who had a white guy draw a shotgun on them?
Being racist in and of itself doesn’t make you an awful person. But you might want to spend as much time thinking about how interconnected oppressions are instead of thinking that being called out on your own unexamined white supremacy is the same as being called a slur. Don’t insult people of color by claiming it is.
fightingwords
Dawster, go read more about the facts of the case. The beating him unconscious? One hit, and down he went. Were they wrong? Yes. Should they have been charged? Yes. But as juveniles, not adults. And for battery, not attempted murder. A 17-year-old boy, a stellar student and athlete at the high school, has been sitting in jail for NINE MONTHS and was today denied release or bail for getting into a schoolyard fight while whites who beat a black kid with a bottle and pulled a gun on another group of blacks were NEVER CHARGED.
This isn’t a matter of “everyone” being wrong. This is a matter of a bunch of kids being bullied and then left to their own devices in the face of institutional racism about which white adults were not willing to do anything at all.
Mr. B
Well said, Fightingwords. Well said.
People are forgetting that this didn’t happen yesterday. That the kid HAS been in jail for almost a year, and even if his charges were dropped (which, again, is not what most activists are lobbying for), at this point he’s served nine months for those trumped-up charges.
He’s got a criminal record before this. It’s not like he’d go off to Harvard scot-free if he his charges were lessened now.
manifoldstore.com
A lot of people seem to forget that the march on Jena wasn’t about race (per se), it was about justice. As so many of you have pointed out, these were kids. The Black (yeah, I used “B”, not “b”) KIDS were charged and tried as adults (and sentenced by an all white jury!) while the other KIDS were not.
Jack Jett
Dawster….
I am outta here. I thought this was a safe haven for gay men and women to share and move forward. The fact that the editors of the blog have allowed it to turn into a forum for offensive name calling is not for me.
I hope to see you on another blog that is a bit more fun and a little less bashing.
Afrolita, you have acheived what you have set off to do.
Goodbye
Jack Jett
Dawster
it’s funny how people’s indignation toward point i have ALREADY used in their defense. i have done extensive research on the matter, and every comment, on this and on the other thread, reflect that, including the timeline, the charges, and with such information i voice my own, personal, and well balanced opinion.
the town are not dealing with children, just young adults needing a little more direction. and the town failed those kids.
jackie… i will see you in another blog indeed. apparently it’s “all or nothing” “one or the other” “with me or against me” Bush mentality. I get it. but i don’t have to give into it anymore.
hisurfer
Jack – afrolito told you to fuck off, you told afrolito to fuck off … don’t even start crying about an ugly mood here that you helped create.
Honeymaid
Okay, this shit is racially charged so I’ll get shit from someone no matter what I say, so here it is.
Those kids at the school need to grow the fuck up, all of them no matter the race. Those 6, if it was all of them, if it wasn’t. People don’t need to hit people in the back of the head and kick them repeatedly no matter what they might have or mightn’t have done.
I don’t care about race, screw anyone who has pride about their race; have pride about something you’ve accomplished, not something you can’t help. And if anyone tries bringing up gay pride, well, I view it more of a pride about being able to come out and be yourself, a celebration of freedom, have pride I guess, but don’t think it makes you better, because all of us are red and gooshy inside no matter the out.
mozzer13
Honeymaid, here’s some shit for you: my guess is the six black kids have grown up after spending the past several months in jail for a fight. It’s a shame the white kids got to go home after committing a similar “attempted murder”. Until there’s racial justice in this country, gay pride won’t mean a damn thing…you can’t have one without the other.
hisurfer
Honeymaid, the problem is that we’re looking at two justice systems; one for black, one for white. Jena is just the most egregious example of it. 95% of the time I’d say, yeah, you’re right, fuck race it’s meaningless (a social construct, if anyone still reads Audre Lorde). The problem comes when we’re confronted with blatant racism. It doesn’t work then to stand off to the side and say “I don’t care about race.”
homoaffectional
Crain is basically the biggest hypocrite alive.
He wants, on his personal orders, to direct HRC’s policies on not just this latest issue, but everything they do about everything, because of his long-standing grudge that even he admits he has a grudge (http://www.nyblade.com/blog/index.cfm?blog_id=3414), although just like every other time he is called out on his bullshit, he tries to take it with a tongue-in-cheek sarcasm, as if that will be enough for him to get away with it.
He wants people to pay attention to his opinion by invoking the hate crime perpetrated against him, as if he’s the only person in the world who’s been the victim of a hate crime, and as if being the victim of a hate crime somehow makes him a moral authority on anything. No one deserves to be the victim of a hate crime, not even Chris Crain, but being the victim of one doesn’t mean you know what you’re talking about – it only means that there’s something wrong with the world, and hate crimes like the one endured by him and millions of others since the dawn of time have suffered for every reason under the sun need to be stopped.
Crain asks Joe “Does my hate crime even count with you?” Where is Chris Crain’s respect for the hate crimes against transgender people? Do those hate crimes even count with YOU, Chris? When called upon his historic disdain for the civil rights of transgender people, he claims that he doesn’t oppose transgender inclusion in federal hate crimes bills, only the non-discrimination bill, even though there’s a pretty good chance that both will pass by the time they actually might get a chance to avoid a veto, which would be 2009 at the earliest.
“But our criticism focused entirely on the trans-jacking of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, or “ENDA,†not hate crime laws.”
But if that was the case, why did he cite the fact that the first time a trans-inclusive hate crimes bill passed on September 14th, 2005, fewer Representatives voted for it than versions before that didn’t cover gender identity (completely ignoring, of course, the fact that Republicans had picked seats in the House since the last time any comparable vote was taken, which could easily account for a large part of the difference?) Why not wait to see how many people opt out of voting for a trans-inclusive ENDA when it passes the House (as it will soon), so he can wave about his magical wand of 8-10 (or perhaps even fewer) less votes for the more inclusive version, disregarding the fact that it has still passed with a comfortable margin? Answer: because he doesn’t want transgender people. If he had his way, he would completely cut the “T” out of GLBT altogether. He will not admit this publicly, but that’s what he wants. He says that the decision to cut transgendered folk out of ENDA is the right decision “politically, legally and morally.” As transgendered advocates have put it, even if they were to concede politically (which isn’t necessarily even the case), legally (perhaps, but even that isn’t certain), how could it possibly be the right thing morally? What if HRC claimed that their support of the Jena 6 was the right thing to do “politically, legally, and morally”? He probably wouldn’t concede any of the three either, and fight them point by point, but he might get the most support from most people in the GLBT community “morally”. Crain has a (rare) point that morally, the right thing to do is to issue a statement about Michael Sandy. The Jena 6 outcome is an injustice. Every hate crime is an injustice, even if it would have been better for HRC to issue a statement on a slower news week. But he would have more credibility to speak “morally” had he not claimed that excluding transgender people from ENDA is the “moral” thing to do.
While on the subject of Crain, perhaps it’s time to mention other things he has been up to — he has censored people, both from having their responses to his transphobic op-eds published when he was managing editor of the Windows Media publications and from posting comments on his blog. He has also made excuses for why responses to his anti-trans diatribes aren’t included in his chain of papers, but even after those concerns are addressed, he refuses to publish the letters, and people trying to get a dialogue started are simply ignored (http://www.jenburke.com/?p=425)
Furthermore, he tends to use unflattering pictures of people who he disagrees with, in conjunction with his pontificating attacks on them, something that hasn’t even been pointed out until today. Just follow his blog regularly and you’ll notice the trend.
Bloggernista put it best – Crain is nothing more than an “eternally bitter homoconâ€. And although also mentioned in that same posting, honestly, by comparison, he makes even Andrew Sullivan look pretty good at times.
He may have every right in the world to speak whatever opinions emanate from his clearly issue-laden mind. But sometimes, it would be nice if he had the good sense to know his opinion is simply unproductive, unnecessary and unhelpful. No wonder HRC and so many others see fit to basically ignore him from now on.
lpswaggerty
I hate being black and gay in America. The gay community is insolent. If I ever become an activist, I’m going to become a sniper and take these faggots out. I can’t stand this! Gays are NOT ready for marriage – they can’t even get along with each other. I would love to marry my man, but I’ll suffer without it until these racist white faggots get their act together.
BillieXX
“If I ever become an activist, I’m going to become a sniper and take these faggots out.”
Why there is a mature response. And then you call men faggots because they disagree with you. You are a nutty little bigot.
Dawster
well, it’s okay… because i’m not white… i feel safe.
Dawster
(the rest of you bitches are on YOUR OWN!)
ProfessorVP
No noose is good noose.
Bill Perdue
Read this and choose sides. Are you for David Duke and the KKK or for justice for the GLBT and African American communities.
“The people of Jena, the people of Louisiana and I are not racist. We simply want justice to be done. We understand that White people in America have lost our basic civil rights. Whites are now deprived of human rights by racial discrimination in jobs, promotions, scholarships, college admissions and in many other programs. More importantly, Whites are increasingly victims of Black racial violence and hate crimes.
…White people are now the real victims of racism in America. Once again it is shown that we must have advocates for our rights and heritage just as any other group is permitted to do so.
May the District Attorney and the people of Jena stay strong and never give in to those who seek take away their rights of life and liberty as guaranteed by the United States Constitution.’
David Duke
I trust the choice is clear now.
ralston6000
Ok People. Let me set this straight for you. It is not ok to stomp on someone’s head with all your might even if you have been taunted. NOT OK. I don’t care if it was the “gay 6”, it is not OK. I am ashamed of HRC’s blind support of this violent behaviour. As of 2 days ago I was an HRC Federal Club member but I withdrew my support after I contacted HRC demanding answers. I asked them to provide detailed case comparisons (in current times) where a white person had received a lesser charge or sentence for an equally violent crime. They could provide none. If I was facing possible loss of eyesight and hearing due to a violent attack , I would hope that someone would be put away for at least 15-20 years. This does not seem unreasonable. Shame on HRC, Donna Payne and the NAACP whose motto should be “if you’re black, we’ve got you covered.”
SeaFlood
ralston6000, I appreciate the way you let your racism shine through.
ralston6000
SeaFlood,
You “woop some ass”, then… Beat someone unconscious, make them lose some of their sight and hearing. Sounds like a plan. You are dangerous as well as the Jena 6. Just what the world needs more of. Me a racist? Those kind of comments make you lose all credibility. You are a joke. I will not be returning to read any more posts so you will be the only one reading your response.