The rhetoric from the right in the Senate debate over a federal marriage amendment gives some twisted individuals license to commit violence. For that reason I wasn't surprised to learn about a hate-crime in New York. You have probably heard the old saying, 'sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never harm me.' What little child hasn't said that in response to hurtful comments directed their way by one of their peers.
But the truth is that words CAN hurt. Particularly when they are taken to heart by people who lack a moral compass to help them determine the proper response to something they disagree with. There are individuals all across this country who are living on the edge of sanity, and even a gentle nudge can send some of them right over the cliff.
They lack the critical thinking skills necessary to determine right from wrong, and when they are told that an entire class of people are responsible for the "destruction of the American family" they don't have the ability to know it's just political posturing for votes.
Singer Kevin Aviance was severely beaten in New York City this weekend. The police arrested four young men on hate-crime charges. Aviance suffered a broken jaw and other injuries in an attack by a group yelling anti-gay slurs.
He suffered head trauma and was in stable condition in a Manhattan hospital, where he was being treated for his injuries.
Aviance performs in drag but was "dressed like a boy" when he was attacked, said his publicist Len Evans.
It doesn't matter to me how he was dressed, no one should be beaten simply because other people might not agree with how they live their lives.
Conservative Republicans have argued that hate-crime laws punish people for what they think. That's a load of crap. Those boys have a right to think whatever they want about whether or not a person should be gay. But they DON'T have a right to beat someone up because they are gay, or perceived to be lesbian or gay.
Your right ends where my body begins. You don't have a right to harm me, because you don't agree with the way I live my life. And if you do, there should be an added punishment because you are not only hurting me but you are sending a message to everyone else like me that 'you could be next.' That is not acceptable.
Aviance had hoped to perform at NYC's Gay Pride festival in a couple of weeks. He may not be able to sing due to his injuries, but if he is able to take to the stage his mere presence will speak volumes to standing up to hate!
Find out how your Senator voted in the marriage debate and if they voted for an amendment call them up on Monday and tell them 'shame on you.' No one should ever debate in favor of bigotry and intolerance -- and it must never become part of our Constitution.
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