Gay Couple Brutally Assaulted For Holding Hands In NYC Say 50 People Watched, Did Nothing

Ok, here are a few tips from someone that lives in NYC and takes the train at that station EVERYDAY. (Actually, I just came from there)
1) ALWAYS BE AWARE! NYC, subway or on the street, is very busy. People coming and go at all times of the day, not all of them law abiding. AND do not think that because someone is WHITE or FEMALE, that you are safe. Dangers comes in all races and genders. With this, not all attacks are conducted by “packs”. Most are, but some happen with one or two people. (my secret tip is to be careful of women with men. Women are known to start a lot of issues with gay men. “You see that fag over there, you just gonna let him sit there, and not do anything? What you some type of buttfucker too?”) I heard this very exchange a few months ago on 14th street in the Village.
2) If you live in NYC, PEPPER SPRAY is LEGAL to carry. Gun permits in the city are very hard to get, and you cannot get a licence to carry or conceal as it is against the law. You can do a quick internet search to find a licensced dealer of pepper spary, usually a Pharmacy. A container, small enough to fit in your pocket, costs about $17.00. It is easy to use, and works perfectly when directed at an attacker’s eyes, nose and mouth. Spray…and get away! The best part is that it creates a cloud large enough to effect a mid sized group of people.I purchased 8 a few years ago and gave them out to my gay male friends. You should replace them at least every 2-3 as they start to loose their full effect over time.
3) Public displays of affection are great, but take care when and where you do them. Dangers are common. Yes, we SHOULD be able to hold hands when and wherever we want, but as this case, and others show, violence may be put into the mix. Along with this, some of you need to shut your mouth. This is not the time to be fierce, or give an LGBT history lesson about how words hurt and so on. Bigots and thugs are not trying to hear your rainbow view of the world.
4) Pick your companions well! I too would like to know what the boyfriend, who is MUCH bigger, was doing during this attack. Even your friends need to be able to help out. The victim and many posters are wondering what the people on the platform were doing, but the only one that had a DUTY to protect and be involved was his man of the last decade. It is unreasonable to expect total strangers to look out for you in a big city. Take a look at YOUTUBE videos where people will tape a beating, but won’t help out. Would be nice, but asking someone to follow an attacker is crazy. You are asking him/her to put themselves into danger as well. Not going to happen.
5) Stop thinking that places like The Village, Chelsea or Hell’s Kitchen, in NYC or other “gay areas” around the country are gay. These areas in NYC are now very straight and very rich and white. Not gay. anymore.
6)Taking a self-defense course would be great…if you can find one. In NYC and the tri-state area, not one self-defense class takes men. NOT ONE! They only take women, transgenders and boys under the age of 14 at most. Once you hit puberty you are not allowed inside. My suggestion is to take a boxing class, and get a gym membership to help you with stamina and the ability to run.
7) Finally, the best defense is an amazing offense. You have two eyes, and two ears, USE THEM. Most dangers can be spotted well before they happen if you are paying attention. If you read all of the old cases of abuse, the people always talk about how they “never expected it to happen to then”. Anyone of us can be victimized by crime, but being a victim is a choice. NO sun glasses at night, don’t drink/drugs more than you can handle, know your limit. Don’t use your headphones or display IPODS, or computers. And most of all, DON”T space out and DAY Dream. Be present in your life, at all times. Along with this, don’t ever let strangers get into you personal space. An attacker is limited by his arm’s reach, unless he has a gun or knife. Distance is your friend.
And before you go. Sometimes there is nothing you can do, you may be victimized but criminals look for easy targets. They do not want a fight, so use these tips, stand up tall, look around and look into people faces so you can identify them if you are attacked, and most of all DO NOT BE AFRAID TO FIGHT BACK, if you think you can win…But esp if you think you may be killed. This may save your life.

Be safe my brothers!

Mar 7, 2014 at 11:10 pm · @Reply ·

@Desert Boy: Not legal in NYC. Permits are very hard to get, and it is illegal to carry a concealed weapon.

Mar 7, 2014 at 11:26 pm · @Reply ·

@EGO: NYC has one of the oldest subway/transit systems in the world. Within the last few years, due to alleged needs to cut costs, even as ridership has increased, as well as fairs, we have had massive closings of manned booths as well as a lack of increase in security cameras. Most stations have no cameras, some have broken ones, but most only have cameras at the actual turnstile entrances/exits. To be honest, even the clocks in that station are broken, rats run along the tracks, homeless people sit on the benches and tourist stand around and block arteries.

Where this attack happened is actually very far from the entrance, and is situated around a very long platform that stretches 3 city blocks, is an access point to the A,C,E,D,B,F train lines and more than 5 separate exits that span a 4 block radius, on 3 levels, tunneling deep under the city street.

The West 4th street station, which does have WI-FI, is also one of the largest NON-HUB stations, connecting riders with subways that can take them around all five boroughs. This station is is a massive labryanth. It is not May Berry.

And there is no need to look for “PURPS” as over and over again, ONE WHITE POLISH speaking male has been identified as the suspect with a sketch being circulated.

Mar 8, 2014 at 11:57 am · @Reply ·