Hate Crime

On March 27,2011 reporter Tara Kyle, shared with us all an article of an NYC alleged anti-gay hate crime attack. Damian Furtch, was the 26 year old victim beaten outside of a McDonald's fast food restaurant at 4:30AM on West Third Street and Sixth Avenue. What could he have possibly done to get beaten up by two men? The guys left him with two very painful and disturbing bruise s on both of his eyes and a broken nose. He had to get stitches on his face after the fight.

Mr. Furtch did nothing more than wear pink attire and accessories that night. We can’t help but wonder how this can happen in the Village where gays are welcome to be who they are. Damian stated that he thought he was safe living in the city that he loved but apparently wearing fluorescent colored clothing and pink shoelaces really bothered those guys.

Damian and one of his close friend were at McDonald's waiting for their order when they noticed two guys staring at them. Mr. Furtch stepped outside to make a phone call in efforts to avoid the tension. While his friend waited inside for the food, the two suspects walked out and asked Damian if he had a problem. Damian answered no and emphasized that he did not have a problem with neither of his three friends. The second suspect hit Damian on the face causing him to stumble and that is when the punches began.

But this happened in NYC where everyone walks the streets with no worries. I honestly do not understand why people would do such horrible thing. Is this a way for the “straight” guys to prove their heterosexuality? They cannot possibly think that by beating up/attacking a gay man they will feel more “manly”. What disturbed me the most when I saw the video on TV was that no one did anything to stop the violence. There was a man talking from a pay phone not even a feet away from the attack not to mention the cars that passed by. How could people be so COLD HEARTED. They did not have to jump in the fight to stop it, a simple 911 call could have made a difference. What ever happened to the good Samaritans? What is this world coming to?

After reading the article and even after watching the news I still had so many unanswered questions. Tara definitely had me wanting to know more. I know this is not the first case but I sure hope these ignorant individuals would just grow up and let it go. Unfortunately the sad truth is that these acts do still happen. Some people have no class or compassion for other people at all. Every one of every color, size, gender, sexuality, culture have the right to feel safe not only in NY but the whole world. No one should live in fear.