“No one should be made to feel unsafe because who they are or who they love,” said Speaker Christine C. Quinn in a press release announcing free self-defense classes to address the disturbing increase in LGBT-biased violence in New York City recently.
According to the release:
The trainings will empower New Yorkers by teaching violence prevention strategies and safety tips to the LGBT community. The kick-off class, led by the Center for Anti-Violence Prevention, will be held on Saturday, June 8th in Room 101 of the LGBT Center at 4:00 PM. An additional evening class has been scheduled for Wednesday, June 12th at the Hudson Guild Elliot Center at 7:00 PM.
Participants should reserve their space by calling (212) 788-5613 or by e-mailing [email protected].
“The spate of bias attacks against LGBT New Yorkers in recent weeks is unacceptable and must end now,” Quinn said. ” Our free self-defense classes will teach violence prevention strategies to New Yorkers and will provide the community with the tools they need to stay safe.”
Additional self-defense classes in Brooklyn and Queens will be announced in coming weeks.
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Meanwhile, New York State Senator Brad Hoylman has organized a public forum to “assess the efficacy of New York State’s Hate Crimes Law, how state and local government agencies are implementing and enforcing the Law, and whether amendments should be considered to expand data collection, statistical reporting, law enforcement training requirements, and/or otherwise further the Law’s goals.”
The forum is slated for June 14 and anyone wishing to testify or attend it can fill out and return the form here by June 10.
Photo: JJ Keyes
oilburner
Omg. Smart move. This is such a great way to meet guys for. Anonymous random hookup.its great these fabulous guys can learn to fight while contracting HEP C. MENINGITIS & HPV & of course HIV
the other Greg
@oilburner: ???????? – I realize that none of your comments ever make any sense, but are you under the impression that NY’s LGBT Center is an “anonymous random hookup” place? And if so, why? Or has dementia kicked in a little early?
Judging from your screen name, I’m hoping you are an oil-burning appliance and are safely bolted to the floor of your basement!
Joetx
@oilburner: I hope your comment was a lame attempt at a joke.
Our gay brethren in NYC are being attacked & killed. It’s very important that they & the rest of us learn how to defend ourselves.
balehead
Actually 25 people lost their lives in NYC last weekend…but you won’t mention that because it wouldn’t blow the gay violence out of proportion……
truthteller
@balehead: Yes, the unusually high heat gave rise to a large amount of senseless gun violence in my fair city, (not 25 deaths though) but the major difference, and why the importance of hate crime laws, is that the crimes you speak of were either random in nature or between people who knew each other. In apposed to being hunted down in the street for actual or perceived sexual orientation.
True, violent crime in NYC in general is greater than anti-gay bias attacks. See, I said it and my world didn’t end, but…there is a great difference between being at the wrong place at the wrong time, and someone(s) believing you should be beaten to a pulp or even murdered, because your very existence is wrong to them.
Dionte
I took a self defense class for my physical ed a few years ago, almost died during the final.
balehead
Truthteller isn’t so “truthtelling”…..big surprise…maybe you should go back to all the awful comments you make about minority gays…
miagoodguy
Did that guy just misspell bitch or is that spelling a gay pronunciation of the word?