During the many years that Gay and Lesbian freedoms were being compromised many losses were had. Many men and women, despite biological birth were threatened, tortured, or murdered. It’s interesting to look back on these moments while trying to move forward to understand how much better things have become because of those who lost their lives for the pursuit of happiness. In this essay I will talk about the traumatic events that transpired and how they slowly led to Hate Crime Legislation.
During Bill Clinton’s presidency, many painfully gruesome acts of gay bashing occurred. And due to the media’s interest in Clinton’s efforts to end the ban on gays and lesbians in the U.S. military, news of the bashings were heavily publicized. In December 31, 1993, a twenty-one year old trans man was killed. Brandon was killed when his rapists John Lotter and Tom Nissen attempted to make sure Brandon did not testify against them for the raping him when they found out that Brandon was born biologically female. In 1998 Matthew shepherd was brutally pistol-whipped, tortured and tied to a fence to die. When he was found he had experienced severe brainstem damage. This damage affected his ability to regulate body temperature, heart rate, and other vital functions. Due to his many lacerations and fractures his injuries were deemed too severe for doctors to operate. He never regained consciousness and remained on life support until he eventually died. Due to this Clinton’s attempt to the addition of lesbians and gays to the hate crimes bill was defeated in Congress. One year later, Billy Jack Gaither was brutally beaten to death. His throat was cut and his body bashed with an ax handle before he was thrown on top of a pile of tires and set on fire. All because he apparently showed sexual interest in them and was “talking queer stuff”. The murders attempted what has come to be known as the “gay panic” legal defense, saying that Gaither’s queer talk set off a violent reaction in them. Clinton compared Gaither’s killing to Shepard’s. Recently, in 2002, Lesbian parents Carla Grays and Adrienne Neff, along with their twenty-two-month-old son, narrowly escaped death as their home had been set ablaze by arsonists. The fire was reportedly set in retaliation for a lawsuit filed against the University of Montana by Grayson and other employees that called for extension of domestic partner benefits to same-sex couples. All of the attacks aforementioned and many others like them have been cited as examples of how antigay rhetoric seems to condone and sometimes even encourage, violence against sexual minorities. These attacks on members of the LGBT community despite rhyme or reason allude to the attacks on many other civil rights organizations and minorities of the past. The brutal beatings and hatred shown by antigay assailants show just how far humanity can go before undoubtedly repeating itself. It reminds me heavily of the African American civil rights movement. I was reminded how men, women and children were victims of ignorant people who felt them undeserving of equal rights and at time even life. Although I am sad and disheartened by the events that took place, I’m also thankful because I know that it would have had to happen for so much progress to be made in the future. It also helps the new age of humanity, LGBT or not understand that hate is never the right answer and that justice, love and tolerance always prevail in the end. For instance eleven years after the brutal murder of Matthew Shepherd a measure was made law and signed proudly by Barack Obama. Progress will always eventually be made, but it will take individuals who think and act selflessly for the welfare of those who cannot.