Safety In Numbers

Friday after next, Mayor Adrian Fenty will meet with the group Gays & Lesbians Opposing Violence (GLOV) and discuss ways to end anti-gay violence in Washington after a spate of assaults and one murder.

Finally.

It took more than a little coaxing for that group and other activists to make Fenty and other officials finally pay attention to the string of incidents where gay men have been beaten up and, in a case not even a month old, murdered.

It’s interesting that someone like Fenty, who courted the gay community like mad in his election campaign (I think he was at more gay events that year than I was), repeatedly spurned the idea of a community meeting with police, top city officials, and residents to discuss anti-gay violence, including hate crimes.

It’s not unreasonable to assume Fenty’s acquiescence came in part after GLOV released a statement criticizing Fenty’s lack of response, while pointing out members of other entities – including the U.S. Attorney’s office and the City Council – have already discussed this disturbing trend with the group. He seems to have been embarrassed into action.

Even in the assault and killing of innocent people, sexual orientation becomes needlessly political. If another group – say the elderly, children, or immigrants – was being targeted, I imagine there would be a bigger deal in the mainstream media and on the lips of local policymakers. Can you see it now? “Old people victimized! Film at 11!”

But because the victims are gay men, you can almost feel the sea change of sympathies and priorities. Perhaps because many of these victims were coming from a known gay bar or club, some DC residents likely had a subconscious thought that these men were out partying and reveling in the “lifestyle” and, well, what do you expect? And if people are firmly homophobic, they see the victims as “the other” whose lives and well-being are of no consequence to them.

And I imagine officials like Fenty are timid about getting into the fray because they see the criticism coming. “Dozens of black men are murdered or assaulted each year,” critics cry. “So why are you spending your time on the gays? Are you with us or them?”

As if the police and the lawmakers have to choose? Why can’t resources be directed to wherever the needs are? Can’t we solve crimes in both the gay and black communities, for example (and whatever communities need our help the most at a given time)?

As with other more prominent cases (think Matthew Shepherd in Wyoming or, more recently, Sakia Gunn in New Jersey), the senselessness of the death and the toll it took on the victims’ families often took a back seat to discussions on how people feel about homosexuality. The bottom line should be someone was needlessly killed or assaulted. Period. And we should all mourn over an unfairly taken or compromised life.

I’m invested in seeing this dealt with not just because I’m gay, but also because I live in Logan Circle, where the recent attacks occurred. I’ve thought about all the nights I’ve walked home from bars or clubs late at night, and sometimes alone, and I took my safety for granted. Thank God for guardian angels.

But I can’t help but wonder if there will be a temporary chilling effect on some men and women wanting to go out because they fear they will be the next victims. Being in a group may not matter. Even one man with a gun instantly outnumbers five or six people. Violence is a great equalizer.

Perhaps Fenty will be enlightened during that Jan. 16th. Just once, he should imagine what it might feel like to have a target on his back.