i'm about to leave for work in a few minutes, but i feel like checking in and sharing a story.
yesterday i was at work and a regular customer came in with a swollen, beaten and bandaged face. he told us the story of how he was riding his bike near aquatic park (near fisherman's wharf and super touristy) and woke up 4 hours later in the hospital. apparently from the police report and witnesses he was beaten with a bat and his bike was stolen. i know i'm veering from talking about creative artsy things, but his story seems necessary to share. it seems to me that it was most likely a hate crime. he is a very flamboyantly gay man who was wearing a wig and hat (which in the end protected him from worse injury). it is shocking to me in this city of tolerance and acceptance that cruelty like this can happen, especially in such a busy touristy spot in daylight. this man is strong and beautiful and thankful of surviving, but i feel angry. maybe i should make some art around this issue...
6 comments:
yikes! that is absolutely terrible. i think art is in order here to help you process such a yucky witness. i don't understand how anyone could bring themselves to do something like that, regardless of a disapproved lifestyle or whatever...i mean, i just can't imagine having that much hatred for a perfect stranger! poor guy. hope he comes out okay...
in lighter news, i got your postcard! it's hanging behind my coatrack by my front door~cute and showing off! thanks mati! :)
my god. larry kramer was on charlie rose last night and bemoaned the fact that gays are thought less of today, more so than ever, especially with such a divided nation, such heated emotions building. i imagine out of towners could've been involved, but even so, did they come into town JUST to beat someone? it tends to be a drinking frat guy kind of atmosphere in that area. i am stunned by your story. but i heard once of this guy getting attacked atop that brown rocky hill overlooking the castro where he was setting up with others the pink diamond tarp for gay pride. i have felt like this city is an island of sorts, but when you hear of beatings within city limits, that island becomes only smaller. i might be compelled to get artsy about this story too.
thanks for sharing this, mati...
hope to see you guys one of these days. toshiko said she ran into you at the illustrator's convention recently.
sS
thank you for sharing this story.
so often, we forget living in our little bubble of acceptance that not everyone is open to alternative existances.
i hope he is OK physically, and more importantly, spiritually.
tsk tsk.
that is a horrible thing, the poor man.
:(
ah, ignorance. i could screem! it makes me so mad to hear this and at the same time so discouraged! what are we doing in this world still breeding hate? nothing has changed from the days where people were {and still are} judged by the color of their skin. it pains me. i'm glad you shared the story. i'll be holding your customer in my heart today. mav
tried to post this yesterday, but had troubles with blogger. poor guy. sometimes i really don't understand people! hope the man is ok. :-(
Post a Comment