There are many things about the queer community in DC that are really positive. It's a close knit community, people are really welcoming, there is a very visible LGBT presence across the city. There are lots of bars and clubs for gay men and there a few for lesbian women as well. Unfortunately, there are some huge downsides to being part of this community as well.
LGBT related hate crimes have been on the rise in the district lately. There have been at least three incidents in the last few weeks, involving young gay men being brutally beaten while out in the streets. We're not talking about people who were out really late at night, or even walking alone. One of the most recent victims, Tony Randolph Hunter, died yesterday from his injuries. It hasn't been confirmed that these incidents were hate crimes, but it's probable.
I know that my friends and I are pretty scared. I would say that I'm quite visibly queer, and that makes me feel like a target. Nationally, around 15% of hate crimes are LGBT related. In DC, it's 60%.
It's such a complicated issue. Crime in DC is pretty severe--it ranks in the top five nationally in terms of crime rates. A lot of my friends have been mugged, it's a common occurrence. One of the reasons that might explain the disparity in hate crimes rates is the Gay and Lesbian Liasion Unit of the DC police department. So reporting in DC might be better than in other cities, where crimes that could be considered LGBT related hate crimes are not reported. Also, the visibility of the community might contribute to the rate. Poverty is also pretty serious in DC, as well as racial tensions. It's a majority African-American city, and the gay community is overwhelmingly white. The gentrification issues I mentioned earlier also probably have an impact.
If you happen to be in DC, a group has arisen to try and address these recent crimes. The next meeting is on Monday, I know I will be there.
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That is scary! Even in the hub of lawmakers, DC does have a high crime rate. I live in Portland,OR more gay/lesbian/bi/transgender friendly. However, outside city limits, there are a lot of rednecks. I can't believe this is still happening in 2008! I grew up in the hub, outside SF, and there are still some hate crimes. Its sad. The way I see it, everyone eats, breathes, etc. who cares what orientation people are??? They don't bother me. I am comfortable with myself. Glad to hear you are taking a stand in your community.
i find this all very scary, and frustrating. as a dc resident, and someone who likes to think she is pretty well-informed, i am frustrated by the fact that i heard nothing of this until reading it on here. and i am scared by the fact that, though i myself do not identify as queer or may not be perceived as such, i have many close friends who do and this just makes me worry for their safety, and the safety of anyone who chooses to head out to the local clubs, or even just walk down the street to the store. it's absolutely unacceptable, and i'm really glad you blogged about it miriam.
Do you have evidence for this claim: "and the gay community is overwhelmingly white." I'm not saying it's not the case and of course there is a major white, gay community, but I think that their visibility in certain central spaces in the city (as well as racism in the media and glbtq institutions) hides the large population of queer people of color in DC.
Additionally, I hope that responses and solutions proposed to these hate crimes do not strengthen the criminal industrial complex in DC. It's interesting that all of this is coming at a time when the Supreme Court is stopping our gun ban and Congress is passing laws to make gun access easier in DC (because we have no voting rights in Congress -- they can impose whatever they want on us). Meanwhile, black neighborhoods like Trinidad are being intensely policed (even militarized) and just yesterday the Washington Post reported that DC was going to seal records of an investigation into a police murder of a 14-year-old (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/17/AR2008091702856.html?hpid=topnews)
Queers folks should be resisting "lgbt related hate crimes" as well as the racists, sexist, classist, homophobic/transphobic, ableist, etc. prison industrial complex and taking on a broader anti-violence vision for our city.
Thanks tnewman. I definitely agree with you, and struggle personally with the fact that many people feel that their only recourse when they are victims of crime is to call the police. I don't feel like the "criminal justice" system does anything to make the situation better, and often makes it worse. How does sending someone to jail, where they will most likely be exposed to more crime, violence, and drug abuse help anyone in the situation?
There is definitely a queer community of color in DC, but it's not the majority. The majority of LGBTQ people in DC are white gay men, which is just a demographic fact. I unfortunately don't have a citation for that. I think you're right that the queer community of color is in some ways invisibilized by racism, and also by cultural differences about what it means to be out. There is totally a vibrant community, with a mostly separate night life and clubs and bars. Often these places are outside of the major hubs, but they are there, thankfully. One of things about the DC queer community that saddens me is how segregated it can be, both gender wise and racially.
Oh, and btw, I will be live blogging from the Critical Resistance conference in a few weeks! Stay tuned.
Thanks, Miriam. Great post and comment and I totally agree with you. Looking forward to your blogging from the CR conference!
I just read something about a DC hate crime victim in the paper: the police had yet to apprehend his attacker, even though the attacker left his cell phone with a ton of personal information at the scene.
so, to follow up on my previous comment, i was randomly watching DC's Fox News5 (it comes on after Kitchen Nightmares) and I recognized and remembered the story of the murder of Tony Hunter because I had read your blog, and the linked news stories.
So, I was initially pleased to see them reporting on the attack/murder, but I became infuriated that, while they acknowledged the sadness of his passing, and even acknowledged that he was on his was to bebar when the attack occurred, they COMPLETELY left out the fact that it's being investigated as a hate crime, but portrayed it as a random mugging/act of violence.
But, as my partner said, that's Fox News for you, I guess.
FYI, the attack on Tony Randolph Hunter is now being identified as a robbery, not a hate crime. See http://www.washingtonblade.com/thelatest/thelatest.cfm?blog_id=21100