Gay Bashing In Balboa Park

While enjoying Gay Pride at Balboa Park in San Diego last weekend, little did I know that a few short hours later, five different gay men would be beaten by young thugs as they individually walked back to their cars from the festivities.  The victims had varying degrees of injury, including one still in serious condition. The three arrested, a 16 and 17 year old, as well as a 24 year old were arrested within 48 hours of the attack.  One of the attackers is associated with a “wanna be” gang called the Lowlifes.  Seem appropriate.  In days gone by, the search for these assailants might not have met with such swift action and immediate denouncement by the City of San Diego’s mayor, Jerry Sanders and his law enforcement staff.  I wonder if this appropriate response is out of a heartfelt desire to ensure all citizens are safe in San Diego or if the fact that the weekend’s festivities bring in $21 million gay dollars each year?  I’m a cynic, I think.  But, it’s good to know that at least the money talks—throughout the US each year, many gays are beaten or killed strictly because they are gay and the assailants go unpunished or are held to a different, and lesser standard of punishment.  Yup, I’m a cynic.

Much to do tomorrow…off to bed to dream a little dream.

Human kindness has never weakened the stamina or softened the fiber of a free people. A nation does not have to be cruel to be tough.
~ Franklin D. Roosevelt

 Published on: Aug 4, 2006