Montreal lesbians call for 'kiss-in' to protest gay-bashing

dr. what · Post by **dr. what** » 2005-01-27 02:26pm

link

Joelle Perras and Brook Morrison were strolling hand in hand down Mount Royal Ave. on Friday afternoon and, while stopped at a light, stole a kiss.

Within seconds, Morrison was hit in the head from behind, pushing her into her companion with such force, Perras broke her nose.

More painful than the fracture, however, was the feeling, as the blood spurted out and a crowd formed around them, that they had just been "gay bashed."

In Montreal. In 2005.

"I was in shock for 24 hours," said Perras, who was treated at a hospital. "I was on my knees and I couldn't believe we had just been gay bashed."

Perras said she has lived in the West and in smaller cities like Thunder Bay, Ont., where harassment of or attacks on gays and lesbians were more common.

"But in Montreal, where everything's out in the open, it really surprised me."

Perras and Morrison are planning a "kiss-in" tomorrow at Mount Royal Ave. and St. Denis St. to "take back the corner."

They want as many people as possible to join them at 4:15 p.m. and kiss on cue to show intolerance won't be tolerated.

To many observers, the violent incident was a reminder that while gays and lesbians may be approaching legal equality with heterosexual society - with the whole country debating the merits of same-sex marriage - practical equality is elusive.

"It's not normal that in 2005 we can't do such harmless things as hold hands or kiss in the street without being attacked. Heterosexuals have been doing it for centuries," said Andre Gagnon, president of Fierte Quebec, an advocacy group for gays and lesbians.

"If someone was attacked because he or she was wearing a turban or an Islamic veil, we would all react. But homophobia is not recognized as a problem."

Police don't record incidents of homophobia per se, Montreal police Constable Olivier Lapointe said; they are counted as regular assaults. But if homophobia "changes the dynamic of the crime," it will be noted.

Lapointe confirmed Perras's version of events, and said the attacker was a man wearing a red and yellow checked shirt.

"But we don't know why he hit them. He didn't say anything," Lapointe said. "It was gratuitous violence."

Gagnon, who was threatened while walking in the Gay Village a few years ago - a man in a car insulted him and attempted to run him over - said few people report attacks when they happen. In his case, police never followed up, even though he had the man's licence plate number, he said.

And it's not always clear why people are attacked. "This was clearly a homophobic incident - they were two women kissing, and they were attacked for it," Gagnon said. "But sometimes people may be attacked just because of their appearance."

Perhaps the divisive debate over same-sex marriage is spilling into the street, said Yves Lafontaine, editor-in-chief of Fugues magazine, a publication devoted to gays and lesbians.

"Montreal is not known for intolerance toward gays and lesbians," Lafontaine said. "But, like elsewhere, when controversial issues arouse public opinion, some will react in a violent way."

However isolated, Friday's incident was shocking, Lafontaine said. "Why does the expression of love between two people bother others? It's not like they were naked. They were just kissing."

For Morrison, it was a sign that politics may be moving too quickly. "Maybe we need to spend more time educating people that there's nothing wrong with two men or two women kissing," she said.

Guardsman Bass · Post by **Guardsman Bass** » 2005-01-27 02:45pm

What kind of dumbass guys hit a pair of lesbians kissing?

I hope, so that this meeting is successful, you actually get a load of gay-bashing morons down there shouting at them, who are then caught on press and showed to be fuckwits.

Col. Crackpot · Post by **Col. Crackpot** » 2005-01-27 02:59pm

In Montreal or all places? I've found the people there to be very open about sexuality and public affection... *shrugs* Jesus freaks are everywhere!

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2005-01-27 03:50pm

Col. Crackpot wrote:In Montreal or all places? I've found the people there to be very open about sexuality and public affection... *shrugs* Jesus freaks are everywhere!

It only takes one asshole to ruin your whole day, even if you passed by a thousand normal people on the same street. But Quebec certainly has its share of fundie idiots.

Col. Crackpot · Post by **Col. Crackpot** » 2005-01-27 04:40pm

Darth Wong wrote:
Col. Crackpot wrote:In Montreal or all places? I've found the people there to be very open about sexuality and public affection... *shrugs* Jesus freaks are everywhere!
It only takes one asshole to ruin your whole day, even if you passed by a thousand normal people on the same street. But Quebec certainly has its share of fundie idiots.

Well, the long country road into Montreal did remind me of Alabama with French subtitles.

CaptainChewbacca · Post by **CaptainChewbacca** » 2005-01-27 06:48pm

In America, Gay-bashing is just insults or threats or any anti-gay behavior, but to be "gaybashed" is a humerous turn of phrase to me.

And I am all for the hot-lesbians only kiss-in. That, unfortunately, would disqualify the two women from the article.

Frank Hipper · Post by **Frank Hipper** » 2005-01-27 07:22pm

CaptainChewbacca wrote:In America, Gay-bashing is just insults or threats or any anti-gay behavior, but to be "gaybashed" is a humerous turn of phrase to me.

Probably because you're a fucking idiot. Gaybashing evokes images of baseball bats and 10-on-1 beatings to anyone who actually has any experience with it. Not to mention anonymous assaults with women gushing blood from their noses.
You may find those images funny as well, for all I know.

Aaron · Post by **Aaron** » 2005-01-27 07:50pm

CaptainChewbacca wrote:
And I am all for the hot-lesbians only kiss-in. That, unfortunately, would disqualify the two women from the article.

You haven't met many lesbians have you? The hot lesbian thing is a creation of porn. Most lesbians I have met/seen are pretty average.

Pick · Post by **Pick** » 2005-01-27 07:52pm

Damn... It always ruins my mood to hear of another example of this kind of intolerance, mostly because I know for every one I hear about there's dozens and dozens I don't. The intolerance level in this world is truly insane.

Crushing.

Post by **Coyote** » 2005-01-27 08:07pm

Funny, the gays I knew in San Jose packed heat. In the Castro district of San Francisco there were red-painted handprints and dates painted on the curbs where gay-bash incidents took place. A lot of the gays I met were armed and ready to fight.

As an aside, I've noticed that lesbians either tend to be hot or butch biker types.

LESBIANS
LESBIANS
LESBIANS
LESBIANS
LESBIANS
LESBIANS
LESBIANS
LESBIANS

Taste a rainbow.

Alyeska · Post by **Alyeska** » 2005-01-27 08:22pm

Frank Hipper wrote:
CaptainChewbacca wrote:In America, Gay-bashing is just insults or threats or any anti-gay behavior, but to be "gaybashed" is a humerous turn of phrase to me.
Probably because you're a fucking idiot. Gaybashing evokes images of baseball bats and 10-on-1 beatings to anyone who actually has any experience with it. Not to mention anonymous assaults with women gushing blood from their noses.
You may find those images funny as well, for all I know.

Frank, calm down. I don't want to HOS this.

Frank Hipper · Post by **Frank Hipper** » 2005-01-27 08:51pm

Alyeska wrote:Frank, calm down. I don't want to HOS this.

You have got to be kidding me.

With all the Elfdart vs Whoever, Bored Shirtless vs Whoever, and Axis Kast vs Everybody shit that goes on in this forum page after page, day after day, I'm supposed to be civil in the face of that level of ignorance and mockery?

I don't think so.

Post by **Coyote** » 2005-01-27 09:11pm

I have to admit, if someone said "the idea of sliding a guy into an oven on a pizzaboard kinda gives me the giggles" I'd have to give him a healthy, hearty, "fuck you" too.

Alyeska · Post by **Alyeska** » 2005-01-27 09:23pm

CC was commenting on the difference between the use of the term in the US and how it was used in the article. He said he found its use amusing. I've yet to see CC going about saying that he hates homosexuality. He found peverse humor in the difference in uses between two very similar phrases.

CaptainChewbacca · Post by **CaptainChewbacca** » 2005-01-27 09:43pm

Sorry. It struck me as funny. Delete the post if you want.

I still endorse hot lesbian action.

Frank Hipper · Post by **Frank Hipper** » 2005-01-27 09:46pm

What are you apologising for, Chewbacca?
That you think gay-bashing is funny when used to describe violence?

CaptainChewbacca · Post by **CaptainChewbacca** » 2005-01-27 09:57pm

Frank Hipper wrote:What are you apologising for, Chewbacca?
That you think gay-bashing is funny when used to describe violence?

Yes. Yes I did. Because every other time I've heard the term, its been used as a description of verbal abuse or ignorance. Using a word in an uncharacteristic way is one of the definitions of humor. If you want to keep bitching about what I said, have at it, but I'm not messing up this thread anymore.

Frank Hipper · Post by **Frank Hipper** » 2005-01-27 10:03pm

CaptainChewbacca wrote:
Frank Hipper wrote:What are you apologising for, Chewbacca?
That you think gay-bashing is funny when used to describe violence?
Yes. Yes I did. Because every other time I've heard the term, its been used as a description of verbal abuse or ignorance. Using a word in an uncharacteristic way is one of the definitions of humor. If you want to keep bitching about what I said, have at it, but I'm not messing up this thread anymore.

Considering the thread is about an event that came about as a reaction to gay-bashing, it's entirely on-topic.

As to your not knowing that gay-bashing is the accepted vernacular term for anti-gay violence, perhaps if it was used in it's original, less PC form of "fag-bashing", there would be no ambiguity?

Google "gay-bashing", don't take my word for it's meaning.

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2005-01-28 09:51am

Alyeska wrote:CC was commenting on the difference between the use of the term in the US and how it was used in the article. He said he found its use amusing. I've yet to see CC going about saying that he hates homosexuality. He found peverse humor in the difference in uses between two very similar phrases.

Fine, fine, you think CC was being a wonderful human being making a lovely humorous comment. I get it, but I don't agree with you. I think he was being a fucktard, and giving a warning to Frank but not to him is fucking stupid.

Glocksman · Post by **Glocksman** » 2005-01-28 12:21pm

Coyote wrote:Funny, the gays I knew in San Jose packed heat. In the Castro district of San Francisco there were red-painted handprints and dates painted on the curbs where gay-bash incidents took place. A lot of the gays I met were armed and ready to fight.

There's even an advocacy group for armed gays.

Pink Pistols

"Thirty-one states allow all qualified citizens to carry concealed weapons. In those states, homosexuals should embark on organized efforts to become comfortable with guns, learn to use them safely and carry them. They should set up Pink Pistols task forces, sponsor shooting courses and help homosexuals get licensed to carry. And they should do it in a way that gets as much publicity as possible. "

--Jonathan Rauch, Salon Magazine, March 13, 2000

We did. There are now over 35 Pink Pistols chapters nationwide, and more are starting up every day. We are dedicated to the legal, safe, and responsible use of firearms for self-defense of the sexual-minority community. We no longer believe it is the right of those who hate and fear gay, lesbian, bi, trans, or polyamorous persons to use us as targets for their rage. Self-defense is our RIGHT

Pick on someone your own caliber.

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2005-01-28 12:24pm

I sympathize with gays who want to defend themselves, but how would a gun have kept this man from sneaking up and punching her in the back of the head without any warning, and then disappearing into the crowd?

Glocksman · Post by **Glocksman** » 2005-01-28 12:32pm

In this case, it wouldn't have helped a thing.
This is going to sound strange coming from me, but guns aren't always the answer, and in some cases (like this one) there's not a whole lot you can do to protect yourself.
The gay bashing situations where guns would be useful are mainly the ones where you have a group of bashers who try to make 'sport' out of a single gay person*.

You'd be surprised just how fast a group of fag-bashers disappears when met with a drawn .357 or 9mm.

*disparity in numbers, coupled with a credible threat of serious bodily injury or death from the group is generally considered to be legal grounds to use a firearm in self defense, even if the group is unarmed.

Alyeska · Post by **Alyeska** » 2005-01-28 12:48pm

Darth Wong wrote:
Alyeska wrote:CC was commenting on the difference between the use of the term in the US and how it was used in the article. He said he found its use amusing. I've yet to see CC going about saying that he hates homosexuality. He found peverse humor in the difference in uses between two very similar phrases.
Fine, fine, you think CC was being a wonderful human being making a lovely humorous comment. I get it, but I don't agree with you. I think he was being a fucktard, and giving a warning to Frank but not to him is fucking stupid.

CC was not being a fine humanbeing, he just found peverse humor in the situation. Flaming him for something so irrelevent is rather bad.

Frank Hipper · Post by **Frank Hipper** » 2005-01-28 01:01pm

Alyeska wrote:CC was not being a fine humanbeing, he just found peverse humor in the situation. Flaming him for something so irrelevent is rather bad.

Manipulating ignorance of basic terminology in order to make mockery of violence is irrelevant to a discussion about gay-bashing and the reaction to it, and undeserving of a heated response.
Gotcha.

sketerpot · Post by **sketerpot** » 2005-01-28 01:23pm

Darth Wong wrote:I sympathize with gays who want to defend themselves, but how would a gun have kept this man from sneaking up and punching her in the back of the head without any warning, and then disappearing into the crowd?

Somewhat related, from Glocksman's post:

Jonathan Rauch, Salon Magazine, March 13, 2000 wrote:"Thirty-one states allow all qualified citizens to carry concealed weapons. In those states, homosexuals should embark on organized efforts to become comfortable with guns, learn to use them safely and carry them. They should set up Pink Pistols task forces, sponsor shooting courses and help homosexuals get licensed to carry. And they should do it in a way that gets as much publicity as possible."

Having a gun wouldn't have done shit, but the publicity might be a good deterrent (or at least better than nothing).