I'm expecting more of this in the next few months

[Update] Watching the news right now, they're only mentioning a hatchet, and are saying two men are in critical condition. Here's a more detailed article from the Boston Globe. You can even see the suspect's MySpace page here....some disturbing comments from his friends near the bottom of a disturbing page.

--------------------------------

You've got to admit, it's not often you hear about a machete and hatchet attack in a gay bar:

NEW BEDFORD -- Police continued their hunt late today for an armed suspect who shot two people and slashed another inside a popular gay nightclub.

The incident occurred about midnight inside the Puzzles Lounge on North Front Street. A bartender, who asked that his name not be used because he feared for his life, said a man armed with a hatchet, a machete, and a handgun attacked patrons before he fled the bar.

[snip]

The bartender said the man came into the bar, ordered a drink, and asked if it was a gay bar. He was told that it was.

A few minutes later, the man drifted to the rear of the bar where two patrons were playing pool, the bartender said.

Moments later, the suspect began attacking the men playing pool, pulled out a hatchet and attacked one patron, the bartender said. Another patron who tried to intervene was attacked with the hatchet.

The bartender said a group of patrons wrestled the man to the ground, but he pulled out a gun. He said the gunman fired one round in the air and then started shooting at the patrons.

The suspect fired several more shots and was running towards the door when the bartender said he confronted him. The bartender said the suspect pointed a gun at his face and fired, but the weapon misfired. The suspect then ran outside and escaped.

Well, at least he didn't blow the bar up like Eric Rudolph. Police have identified the suspect, based on someone in the bar recognizing him, as 18-year-old Jason Rubida.

There's a reason I expect to hear about more anti-gay violence in the coming few months: the debate over taking marriage rights away from same-sex couples is going to start heating up again. You see, there's yet another constitutional convention scheduled to deal with taking away our rights. On May 10, the General Court will meet to debate an amendment to the Constitution that would strip same-sex couples of the right to marry (but allowing those who've already married to stay married...ain't the right wingers sweet). The last time we had an intense debate over the issue, during 2004, anti-gay violence in Boston jumped. Here's a bit of what I wrote when the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs released it's 2005 Report:

Here in Boston [in 2004], attacks rose 30%; one-third of those attacks took place in February and March. Those months are significant because the Constitutional Convention, and most heated debate over same-sex marriage, took place then. This should come as no surprise. Those of us involved in the queer anti-violence movement already know that anti-gay violence has a tendency to increase during periods when there is controversy surrounding queers. If gay folks are the focus of controversy, gay folks are being attacked...and killed.

Three men are in the hospital after last night's attack, one in critical condition. Although this was an odd attack, I'm fairly confident it won't be the last. I just hope the next ones aren't as serious.

Bookmark/Search this post with:

| | | | |