Equality's Brutal Backlash: The Murder of Mark Carson
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Equality's Brutal Backlash: The Murder of Mark Carson and the Rise in Violence Against Gays
A few months ago, I wrote about how my partner and I were called "disgusting" by a man on the street as we shared a quick goodbye kiss in the very gay Manhattan neighborhood of Chelsea. That has turned out to be less an aberration than a symptom of far more horrific things to come. We've seen reports of violent attack after violent attack in New York against gays in recent weeks, and now, this past weekend, we've experienced the brutal killing of Mark Carson.
"You want to die tonight?" the alleged gunman reportedly said after repeatedly calling Carson and a male companion "f---ots" while they were walking down the street, before fatally shooting Carson in the face.
32-year-old Mark Carson was walking down a street in New York City on Friday evening when a man came up to him and his friends, yelled “f---ot” and “queer,” and shot him in the head.
Mark’s horrific death was part of a string of anti-LGBT violence in New York City.
Hate crimes are sadly nothing new, but we’ve written an open letter to the mayors of every major U.S. city and all 50 governors to capture the spirit we’re all feeling right now: horror, outrage, and a determination that love will conquer hate.
Terrible. Several friends and I frequent that area often; it could've been anyone of us that night. I'm still in shock at how completely senseless and random the attack was, in the village no less, where you'd think you'd be safe. It's so frightening.
This is horrible. It's inevitable that a few close-minded fools will react to an increasing acceptance of homosexuality in society, but this takes it far beyond any notion of morality. May the man who was killed rest in peace. I hope that adequate punishment is given to anyone who feels they are entitled to act aggressively based on their discriminatory and ignorant personal beliefs.
Terrible. Several friends and I frequent that area, it could've been anyone of us. I'm still in shock at how completely senseless and random the attack was, in the village no less!
Damn, stay safe. I don't want to see you on the news next.
It's crazy how often this has been going on lately, especially in an area that's supposed to be gay friendly. It's only not surprising in the sense that this is what happens anytime a minority group gains more rights. Bigots lash out even more.
It shouldn't come as a surprise then that in New York City, in a state that passed marriage equality in 2011,
hate crimes against LGBT people so far in 2013 are almost double what were at this point in 2012.
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We sometimes forget that getting laws passed and getting court rulings declared is, comparatively, the easy part -- as monumentally difficult as that has been and continues to be. One reason we in fact get the laws passed, in addition to protecting ourselves, is to change attitudes for future generations. But that part doesn't happen overnight and surely not without a backlash, which can sometimes be violent, as it has been in just about every other movement for equality. The hate is still out there and the haters are getting more desperate. Our worst enemies right now are complacency and the seductive message that we've "arrived."
It's amazing how the world goes nuts just because one man wants to be with another man like... how is that anyone's business? Violence against the gays is irrational and baseless.
Things will only become worse before they improve RIP so sad how a life can be taken so quickly. Poor guy was prob just out having a good night with his friends. People need to mind their goddamn business! One thing that being gay has taught me is to be compassionate and accepting of other people I may not even understand. The same way I want people to understand me.
EDIT: I love all my gays out there and things will be looking up for us hopefully asap
It's hard to wrap your head around being put in that terrible situation purely because of being gay. It's insane and unjust. It makes me feel so uneasy that something so insignificant about my character could put my life at risk, and Edinburgh is nowhere near as bad as NYC...but it only takes one hateful nutcase.
RIP so sad how a life can be taken so quickly. Poor guy was prob just out having a good night with his friends. People need to mind their goddamn business! One thing that being gay has taught me is to be compassionate and accepting of other people I may not even understand. The same way I want people to understand me. 