Gay Bashing Circa 2014

[sp1814]

Seriously...

In 2014, why is this still happening?

And this isn't a 'making a point' thread...I'm genuinely interested in the possible reasons behind this.

Is it religious fundamentalism? Anger at perceived favouritism towards an admittedly small minority? Mental illness? Bravado?

http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/aug/28/man-jailed-two-years-vile-violent-attack-outside-london-club-ammonia

Again - I'm not making a point, I would like to hear your ideas as to why someone would do this?

I've seen lads having fights in nightclubs, but this is different - any ideas as to why it still happens (and I promise not to shout anyone down - honest).

[jno]

I'm not sure it's gay bashing, he just sounds like a nutter - or "problems with substance abuse", as the story says. It is indeed different from people fighting in clubs, which may grow out of drink, peer pressure, testosterone and bravado. This sounds more like a mini-version of the sort of kids with guns who go postal in US schools. But if the court was told anything beyound substance abuse to explain it, it isn't in the report.

[Obiter]

Quite. Sounds to me like an insanely jealous gay bloke himself.

[agchristie]

Sp - I reckon most of those motives could apply in the various attacks of this nature. This one was clearly premeditated and wreckless.

[Baldric]

The Judge didn't think it was Homophobic, and he was in a pretty good position to weigh up the evidence, so why should anyone else?

///Judge Etherington said he had ruled the attack was not homophobic following statements given by the two women standing with Lynn outside Lightbox///

[Obiter]

At one time this was called "queer rolling", though the aim was usually robbery and/or blackmail. This did from time to time lead to tragic consequences for both victim and perpetrator. Google R v Miller for further info.

[askyourgran]

It didn't seem to me that they were attacked because they were gay, the man has problems with drink and drugs, maybe he is a loner who is jealous of groups of friends enjoying themselves. I thought (hoped) gay bashing was over.

[tonyav]

I doubt if he even knew they were gay, he's just another nutter imo.

[Retrochic]

There will always be morons that 'bash' people, any people whom they deem to be 'not normal'. I would guess its often done in a group situation for bravado -ie 'Look at that p**f or stupid goth,hippy, tree hugger, Sappho -take your pick.

[Retrochic]

'Sappho' ? where did that come from? Since when has L*sb**n been a swear word?

[Baldric]

Not quite sure how that ties in with the given link though and the opinion of the Judge

[agchristie]

It's a valid question, just the wrong example.

[Obiter]

Sappho was a Greek poetess who lived on the island of Lesbos. She was noted for her love verses to women, hence the connection.

[sp1814]

Everyone who has said that this isn't an incident of 'gay bashing' is 100% correct. I picked up this story from another source, which highlighted the fact that this attack happened outside a gay bar, and I completely accept that this was not a homophobic attack...however...

...I would just like to ask...why do these attacks still happen? This is a general question, based on a number of recent incidents (of which this *isn't* a good example).

What I mean is - I can understand fights that happen when someone chats up someone else's girlfriend...or takes the mickey of someone in a kebab shop, or queue jumps a taxi rank...but in 2014 - why does gay bashing still happen?

General question.

[sp1814]

Scratch my rubbish original example...

Take this eon from August 23rd:

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/homophobic-thugs-leave-lesbian-unconscious-4093319

Why???

And again, I'm not asking anyone to 'take sides'...just looking for a reason why this could be happening.

The girl who was attacked at the Notting Hill Carnival made headlines in the national papers...but when stories like this happen, it seems that the media turns a blind eye.

That might be just my perception (actually, I'm sure it is), but I'm at a loss as to explain why gay people are targeted in this way - and does it mean that because gay people are more likely to be attacked - that these attacks should be treated as 'hate crimes'? Or not?

Really interested in your thoughts...

[sp1814]

Retrochic

You raise a valid point there...wasn't there a Goth who was murdered a few years ago, simply because they were a Goth?

I mean...seriously - who goes out to murder someone because they wear eyeliner???

[agchristie]

SP - I really think this is a difficult one to explain as perpetrators have their own motives. I guess the clues would be in the formal recordings of such cases.

Many local authorities have separate policies other than general anti-social behaviour which include protocols on how to deal effectively in partnership with other agencies on Race/Hate Crime and Generic Harassment. The police will have their stats too.

[kvalidir]

The 'Goths' name was Sophie Lancaster- there is now a foundation set up in her name encouraging tolerance of all groups of people, and a stage named after her at the Bloodstock Festival. She and her boyfriend were attacked for being , as you say, Goths.
Why? Honestly I've no idea except that historically people always attack groups which are dis-similar to themselves, and they usually do so in gangs. This might be because in a gang you have group culpability, group affirmation and group concensus, and gangs appeal to weaker people who are less inclined to stand up and be counted on their own. If you then take a group of people who are all personally insecure and thus prone to displays of egotism when in a like minded group you get scenarios where that group will go far further as a group than any single individual would ever go. Add to that oneupmanship ( drinking more than anyone else, taking more drugs than anyone else, being 'harder' than anyone else) and you have a recipe for disaster, and since none of these people are genuine 'warrior' types they tend to pick on people they perceive as easy targets like a young couple walking through a park who are dressed differently in Sophie's case, gay men because they are (wrongly) perceived as being effeminate, gay women ( because not wanting or needing a man is threatening to them as they are already psychologically de- emasculated), old people because they represent previous authority ( which they are likely to have had a problem with), black people, Muslims, Jews etc simply because they are different and thus scary etc etc etc.
It doesn't excuse it, but it does explain why it's so important to make sure that small children feel valued and respected at school from the word go, their self esteem is nurtured by teachers and parents and they find themselves valued by society and part of a larger and gainful group with good values, because sad, miserable underachieving little kids end up in gangs and gangs do crazy and bad things. (Just for the record I'm not talking about well organised street gangs where drug dealing and professional crime is the purpose), I'm talking about gangs of 'like minded', violent, angry louts with no meaningful place in society.

[murraymints]

What Shar said ! ^^^