More Senseless Hate Crimes
By Keith Boykin, in sexuality
Monday, June 18 2007, 9:12AM
As if we needed any reminders that prejudice still flourishes against those who are black and gay, two news stories over the weekend confirmed that truth. In New York, officials filed a hate crimes charge against a 17-year-old charged in the stabbing death of a black gay man from Brooklyn. And in England, another 17-year-old pleaded guilty to "racially aggravated assault and disorderly behavior" against a black gay man there.
The Brooklyn teenager was indicted on murder charges for fatally stabbing 20-year-old Roberto Duncanson (pictured above left) because he was gay, according to Kings County prosecutors. The alleged killer, Omar Willock, faces 25 years to life if convicted. Meanwhile, in England, a 17-year-old pleaded guilty of attacking 27-year-old Alex Juin (pictured above right) because he is black and gay.
The racists and homophobes who deny the significance of hate crimes against blacks and gays need to pay attention. And those who say that gays want "special rights" need to stop lying. LGBT people want the same thing everyone else does -- the right to leave peacefully with dignity and respect.
A Murder In Brooklyn
Here's what prosecutors say took place in Brooklyn when Duncanson was murdered on May 12. The accused and the victim passed each other on St. Marks Avenue in Crown Heights, and Willock became enraged because Duncanson allegedly looked at him. "What are you looking at, f----r?" Willock said, shouting anti-gay remarks. Duncanson left but Willock remained in the area while Duncanson visited a cousin.
When Duncanson passed Willock again on his way home, Wllock berated him again for his sexual orientation. Duncanson tried to flee, but Willock followed him, punched him and then stabbed him, officials say. Duncanson was found on the sidewalk, stabbed four times. Duncanson died at Kings County Hospital - where he was born - about an hour later.
The idea that a man should attack another man just because he looks at him is outrageous, and if the defendant tries the old "gay panic" defense the courts should reject it immediately. The fact that a gay man looks at you is no excuse to commit a hate crime against him. If you're that insecure about your own sexuality, then you need to go to counseling and work through your own problems. But you have no right to take another person's life.
Roberto Duncanson "had the heart of a lion," said his mother, Karen Sterling-Palmer. He managed the photo department of a Manhattan CVS drugstore and wanted to go to school to become an X-ray technician. "Roberto was a respectful kid, but if you offended him, he would retaliate," the mother said. She also said her son never told her he was gay and that she did not believe that he was. But co-workers at the Chelsea CVS said Duncanson's homosexuality was common knowledge and he did not try to hide it, the New York Daily News reported.
That too is a sad tragedy of homosexuality in our communities. Far too often our families don't know about our lives and our sexual orientation but our friends and associates do. Now it's time to create a world where young men like Roberto Duncanson don't have to hide who they are from their families in order to gain acceptance.
"He was loud, crazy, loved his fashion and liked to have fun," one of Duncanson's co-worker told the press. "He was a very optimistic person, too. He always put a smile your face," she added. Duncanson was planning to visit Miami early this month to celebrate his 21st birthday.
An Attack In England
Here's what officials say happened in East Lancashire, England in March and April. Alex Juin had relocated to the area after fleeing the civil war in Haiti. But he found he was unwelcome by some in his new neighborhood who hounded him out of his new home with racist and homophobic attacks.
A gang of five youths repeatedly harassed Juin, pulled his hair, attacked his car, and threatened to stab him. One day while he was waiting at a bus stop, the five young men reportedly approached him and started shouting that he was "black" and "gay" and told him, "We don't want your sort around here. It's time you got out of Haslingden." The 17-year-old who pleaded guilty over the weekend pulled Juin's hair extensions and pushed the back of his head.
Two weeks later, Juin and his partner were stopped at a garage when a car carrying two of the men involved in the earlier attack pulled up and abused him again. As Juin stopped at a traffic light at the intersection of Manchester Road and Deardengate, two of the attackers came around the corner, approached Juin's vehicle and tried to break into his car.
Justice was served almost two months later when one of the accused pleaded guilty, but the five men got what they wanted in the end. Speaking after the case, Juin said: "I have had enough. I feel like I can't even go outside anymore because the abuse is so bad." He said the attackers "are making my life a misery" and vowed to move out of the area, just as they wanted.
Comments conceal
Cocoa Rican![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.keithboykin.com/blog2/nav-commenters.gif)
June 18 2007, 9:39AM
The complete ignorance by our youth and lack of respect for human life - gay or straight - is abhorent! It's time for a nationwide hate-crime legislation that will end the luck-of-the-draw system presently in place among the states.
C. Baptiste-Williams
June 18 2007, 9:40AM
We are living in a sad time when it is so easy to take someone's life.
The value of life and tolerance is definitely not being taught in today's society.
Liquid Fonts
June 18 2007, 9:47AM
I read about the murder last night but I've had the news on since about 5:30am. Nothing was mentioned
Blue
June 18 2007, 11:26AM
Very sad and scary indeed. It makes me take pause, that's for sure. Living in a city like the District in what is considered a "safe" area has made me very lazy when it comes to awareness of my surroundings, and I need to chill on that. I think city living has lulled many of us into a false sense of security. Stuff like this is a stark reminder that we really are not safe in too many places. Thanks for posting this. Peace to all of the surviving family and friends.
Kenneth Winfrey
June 18 2007, 11:35AM
Being attacked for looking at another man is eerily similar to Emmit Till's murder after being accused of making a pass at a white woman.
I think that every gay man should take self-defense classes the same way women do. I have recently started kick-boxing classes. We need to learn how to protect ourselves 'in the meantime.' Too many more of us will be hurt or killed waiting for politicians to back us up with hate-crimes legislation.
mark
June 18 2007, 12:38PM
Yet another young life ended due to hate, and, why is it that when its a young person of color, we only hear and read about it on sites like this one?
MidwestGuy![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.keithboykin.com/blog2/nav-commenters.gif)
June 18 2007, 1:41PM
This story is indeed troubling. But, is there something missing? He was walking down the street, passed a straight guy, was called some name, visited cousin, walked past guy again, a chase ensued, and he was stabbed. Is that the whole story? If it is, it's now both troubling and strange.
Can someone explain what name he was called? f-----R? Fucker? Flamer? Faggoter?
Robert Jones, Jr.
June 18 2007, 2:49PM
Keith,
Thanks so much for posting this. I think it was C. Baptiste-Williams that talked about the declining value of life. My friend Max Gordon wrote a fantastic essay about the possible causes of that:
http://thisisthediaspora.blogspot.com/2007/06/this-hostile-world.html
Toute
June 18 2007, 3:47PM
Having interviewed men of particular fetishes and widely objectionable sexual preferences/lifestyles and being a struggling man of color with my own demons, I felt a odd chill up my spine as I read this. I understand that gentlemen here may not believe in God, but now more than ever, we should call upon God to forgive them for the wrong they have done. Their hate is not a product of God, but the devil playing on their prejudices. God never sanctioned killing, but love. Love so strong it would tolerate, even embrace the our fellow brother instead of wipe him out. I have had discussions with gay men for the past 4 years now... previously being a homophobic man who suffered an insatiable appetite for brothas feet... I thought myself to be gay as well and sported a front. So I can relate fellas, but I think there is a sort of temperance that is lacking in us in regards to sexual appetite and desiring what is not "biologically fitting" which is another man... I think often and I speak with other brothas about this issue... we argue, but in the end, we respect and LOVE each other as God commanded. I love em with all my heart, my body, and soul and can't tell you the times, I wanted to bum rush them into bed, because I loved them that much... All Im saying is instead of killing him, why not speak to him, understand his point of view, and bring up points beside religion (don't be lethargic in your religious rants, but informative and insightful with reason as your foundation and the Bible as your right arm), I say... I can't tell you how sad I feel about this story, right now. I lost a cousin to being unable to handle his feelings for men... I can't stand to hear this shit any longer.
Peace and love brothas,
C.
Stuffed Animal
June 18 2007, 6:05PM
"I think there is a sort of temperance that is lacking in us in regards to sexual appetite and desiring what is not "biologically fitting", which is another man . . ."
Keep searching for answers, Toute! With persistence, you will eventually find that the Bible isn't the equivalent of God, being Gay isn't only about sex (or sexual appetite), and there are no biological barriers to men loving one another. Move beyond limited human perception, and open yourself to the unlimited realm of the spirit. That's where Gay identity exists. Also, learn the ancient meaning of the word "eunuch", which appears in Scripture, and read what Jesus Christ is reputed to have said about eunuchs.
Mel Smith
June 18 2007, 6:37PM
Toute, self hate has cause a lot of us to hate our feelings for the same sex. Self hate is what you and many others suffer from. The heterosexual power structure is responsible for your self destruction. Like Stuffed Animal said, research more on that word, 'eunuch.' The heterosexual power structure is indeed, powerful. That is why we must challenge it by any means necessary, before other young 20-year-old young men die. Violence or nonviolence, we have to challenge the heterosexual power structure when it seek to cause bodily harm to us. When people seek to oppress us, we have to go in the streets and protest.
Darryl
June 18 2007, 8:39PM
I think every gay person should carry a gun, if we start busting some caps in these gay bashing homophobe asses they'll know who not to mess with!!
Steve
June 18 2007, 9:30PM
Much as I detest violence, Darryl, sometimes I think you're right. But then I wonder if that wouldn't just result in even more violence toward gay men. Escalation isn't the answer - tolerance is. I really like the gay characters on television, soap operas and stuff. That helps immensely. Now, if we could get the television shows to encourage young men to experiment, that would be a great step.
wonder
June 18 2007, 9:53PM
Toute (toot?) "being a homophobic man who suffered with an insatiable appetite for brother's feet?!" just how does that work? It sounds like you are confusing a fetish with an actual loving connection with another human being...gay is not a fetish...but toe sucking is...lots of straight people have fetishes for toes, shoes, underwear and what have you...but that doesn't have anything to do with them being or not being straight....i think you are confusing a whole lot of issues and maybe you just need to sit down and stop acting like everybody else is just like you....i'm sorry to be harsh, but everybody with some twisted sex thing always acts like it's the same as being gay...it ain't and i'm not going to sit here and let you play it off like it is.....feet and underwear and all that is a FETISH....keep it simple folks.....
Sherman
June 18 2007, 10:30PM
I hope that having Roberto's attacker found begins to bring a sense of justice to the family of "Pancho." I wonder, however, if the loved ones of Omar Willock feel any shame for his actions, and any sense of loss for their son potentially going to jail for much of his life.
I believe any positives from the loss of Roberto won't come with just Omar's prosecution. I'm uncomfortable with seeing a 17 yr. old can face up to 25 YEARS in jail. Sending him (or anyone) away for a "hate crime" charge is no guarantee either Omar or his neighborhood of Crown Heights will radically change their attitudes towards LGBT people, much less those from their own communities.
Two questions:
1) Would Omar's conviction under the Hate Crimes Law send a message of zero-tolerance for anti-gay views and attacks, AND
2) Will people like Omar's peers interpret the message as "OK, bashing gays is wrong," OR "I hate gay people, but the law won't let me touch them."
Attacks on gays (or any minority) is more than a civil rights issue.
Mel Smith
June 18 2007, 11:03PM
We have to use violence against them in a way that we cannot go to jail. A few years ago, I remember some old associates of mine, let their gay friend get physcially gay bash by homophobic heterosexual men, in the Bronx. Five gay guys were there and they let their friend get chased in the streets by a FEW men screaming b@tty boy, batty boy. Heterosexuals do that because they think we are cowards. See, we let heterosexual gay haters disrespect us, but we love to disrespect each other. That makes me more upset.
Miss Thang
June 21 2007, 1:37PM
Did you say that the boy in Brooklyn was attacked in the mostly Black West Indian neighborhood called Crown Heights?
Well, I am not suprised that this happened there.
The Crown Heights section of Brooklyn is just like Kingston, Jamaica as far as attitudes are concerned.
edublkman
June 23 2007, 10:32AM
It is sad when this story as so few posts and the Isiah Washington has so many. We should be, as I am, outraged by violence against our brothers and sisters, gay or straight, but especially our gay brothers and sisters.
C. Ransom
June 23 2007, 1:53PM
I extremely saddened by the death of Roberto and the attacks on Alex in England. It reminds me of something that happened her in Baltimore at a local black gay establishment which is owned by a great black gay couple. they establishment is located directly across the street from a adult heterosexual club where they have female strippers. Last saturday there were about four or five guys from the so called straight club he came over to the side of the street where there were several gay bruthas standing in front of the gay establishement minding our own business and the straight dudes came over and walked by while making lude comments. they then a couple of minutes later after getting in their car circled the block two or three times shouting more hateful slurs and the guy that was the loudest of them all was not physically attractive in the least . None of us gay men were paying him any attention what so ever.
G99
June 23 2007, 6:41PM
We should be outraged at hate crimes? What's next? You'll want equality? You guys are worse than women. (sarcasm)
Intolerant fucks piss me off
Dagoto
June 24 2007, 12:11PM
GLBT has a lot of work to do in Black communities here and around the world. I see a poster refer to Jamaica (The Crown Heights section of Brooklyn is just like Kingston, Jamaica as far as attitudes are concerned.) The same could be said for every community where we try to live.
On this day of Gay Pride, I have a heavy heart as I do not share this day openly. I am Jamaican and the dream of equality and respect in our community seem unrealistic. "Gay is evil and evil deserves to die" could be the country's motto instead of the one there now "Out of many, One people".
Here in my new adopted home of America, hate in the Black community is also rampant. The cries from the urban corners of this country where so many of our young GLBT people live and are killed go unheard by our own families. Forget that the mainstream media doesnt even acknowledge our existence but who does? Oprah? Only when she wants to talk about the DL scare. This is not enough and certainly not a complete representation of Black Gay life.
Jeff
June 25 2007, 4:53PM
This is sad. We're not only killing each other in our community, we're killing gay men just because of their sexual orientation. When will the Black Community wake up. Keith I enjoyed you on BET this pass weekend. Bishop Jordan looked totally unprepared.
CornBread
September 7 2007, 5:08PM
Berto was a very good friend of mine went to school togther and I did not even know he lived around the corner from until we were just talking I lokked him like brother and my heart goes out to his family because he did not need to leave earth this way because of what he choose to be sexually. I miss him every day and and When I vist home from collage it does not feel the samt not being able to go around the corner to chill with my homeboy for live Berto LOVE YOU BABY RIP!
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