Recent Gay Bashings Trouble Community
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AN INDEPENDENT VOICE FOR THE LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, AND TRANSGENDER COMMUNITIES OUT June 26, 2015 | Volume XIII, Issue 4 Recent Gay Bashings Trouble pretty hateful stuff.” Smith said they were their wounds and the calling the men “bitches” and “queers” dur- case is still open. Community ing the attack. The second inci- Both men were beaten in their faces dent, which received BY STEVE CHARING with closed fists and were stomped on. a good deal of pub- Two separate attacks on young gay cou- They were robbed of money, identifica- licity, took place on ples took place in Baltimore within two tion, and cell phones. The stolen phones June 11. A 25-year- weeks of each other that has caused the had an estimated value of $700, and $80 old gay man, Steven community to be concerned about safety. in cash was taken. Smith said a man down Lemmerman, also The first occurred on May 28 after mid- the street heard the screams and called known by his DJ night outside the Cathedral Court Apart- the police. The men received minor treat- name DJ Lemz, was ments near Read Street. Jeremy Smith ment at the scene but refused to go to the attacked along with said he was coming home from a bar with hospital for further medical care. his partner Stuart his fiancé and a group of six black men, ac- “The worst part about it all was getting Parlier on the corner cording to the police report, came up from everything back in order like new cards, of Charles and Fay- behind. “I think they were hiding or I was ID’s, Social Security card, filing fraud ette streets in downtown Baltimore. They decided to cross. Stu walks faster than just oblivious to their presence,” Smith told alerts, applying for new cell phones, doc- were walking back from a drag show at me typically so he was up ahead. As we Baltimore OUTloud. “They said just take tor visits, getting checked out, and the loss Soundstage when they were attacked. crossed, we were serving catwalk model it and jumped us. They were saying some of being carefree thinking my part of the Lemmerman provided Baltimore OUT- walking in the crosswalk. city was a nice place,” he said. loud the following detailed account via “The second he saw us doing that, he The victims were unable to email: sped his car up and pulled up to me. I no- John Waters provide detailed descriptions “The driver was sitting at the red light ticed the car as it was coming at me and my credit: Wikipedia of the attackers, who fled on going west on Fayette, and since no one hand went down on the hood out of pure foot. They are recovering from was diving up Charles, the green light, we —continued on page 3 John Waters: Straight Pride Day The 69-year-old filmmaker and author, shave and you’re really nelly.” (He does a BY ED GUNTS known for Hairspray, Polyester, Pink Fla- twitching dolphin impression.) Do you have trouble telling a bear mingos, and other movies, demonstrated Waters, who is gay, says he’s intrigued from an otter? Let John Waters his mastery of gay lingo during a talk in his by one category. help. hometown of Baltimore. “I had never even “The bear community is a com- “There’s a lot of vocabulary,” heard of this one: au- munity that all gay people know he says. “I’ve heard people say ...And other tosexuals,” he says. “A what they are, but no straight peo- ‘This is my hus-bear,’ and ‘This is psychiatrist at a fancy ple do,” he says. “Bears are mid- my significant otter.’ But I heard inspirations girl’s college told me, ‘We dle-aged, overweight gay men, two new ones recently. Somebody have to ask them now, if and they like it. They are hairy and said, ‘Oh, he’s such a blouse,’ and I said, they come in for counseling: Are you gay? they like cubs, which are younger ‘A blouse?’ and they said. ‘Oh, a feminine Straight?… All those initials. Then we versions. And then there are ot- top.’ And then somebody said, ‘Oh he’s have to say, ‘Are you autosexual?’ I said, ters, people who aren’t fat or hairy not a bear anymore. He’s a dolphin,’ and I ‘What’s that?’ And they said, ‘That’s a per- yet but will be.” said, ’What’s a dolphin?’ That’s where you —continued on page 17 honor our past, work for our future ON JUNE 27, JOIN US FOR BRUNCH & FILM SCREENING OF BEFORE STONEWALL To commemorate the anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, The LGBT Health Resource Center of Chase Brexton invites you for brunch and a movie to celebrate our community’s pride, learn more about our history, & discuss our journey ahead. Saturday, June 27, 2015 - 10:00AM to 1:00PM Chase Brexton Health Care at Mt. Vernon 1st Floor Community Rooms 1111 North Charles Street - Baltimore, MD 21201 ALL ARE WELCOME RSVP Requested The event is free but space is limited. RSVP to Bethany at 410-837-2050 x1216 or online at tinyurl.com/stonewallbrunch Be proud. Be healthy. lgbt-hrc.org | 410-837-2050 2 t BALTIMORE OUTLOUD JUNE 26, 2015 • BALTIMOREOUTLOUD.COM NEWS // LOCAL R ECENT GAY BASHINGS [the bars] as nec- have made it clear to TROUblE COMMUNITY essary and safe.” the Police Department – continued from page 1 “Central District that prompt investiga- officers are con- tion of these incidents instinct and reaction to a vehicle approach- tinuing to investi- as suspected hate ing that quickly. I did not stand there and gate this incident crimes is very impor- deliberately hit the hood. The car stopped as a hate crime,” tant to the community. within inches of my body, if not, an inch. It Det. Jeremy Sil- “Earlier this was a deliberate intimidation move. bert, a Baltimore month, the Commis- “A second or two later the driver side City Police Depart- sioner issued new, door flew open and we are fairly certain ment spokesper- improved policies we both heard ‘f*****g faggots!’ as the door son, told Baltimore on the Department’s was opening. At this point Stu was about OUTloud. “Anyone investigation of sus- 15 to 20 feet away from everything hap- with information is pected hate crimes, pening. He was approaching the northwest asked to call 410- especially anti-LGBT corner of the intersection when the attack- 396-2411.” hate crimes. These er started to go after him. The car ordeal Activist Kinji vicious assaults give was happening on the northeast side. Scott is calling for the Department an “Stu finally noticed the commotion be- justice in these early opportunity to hind him and he turned around. The at- cases. “As a gay show that these new tacker must have been hoping for a sur- man I am commit- policies will be effec- prise hit because when Stu turned around, ted to seeking jus- tive in appropriately he did too. He then went after me and land- tice for all members investigating and ed multiple blows to the head. The first hit of LBGT communi- Steven Lemmerman a.k.a. charging suspected was with his left fist to my right eye. After ty whenever we are DJ Lemz following the attack hate crimes and bring- that he punched the back of my head, my victims of acts of ing their perpetrators mouth, and then my nose. Stu at this point hate,” he said. “I pray that Steven Lemmer- to justice. In the meantime, our thoughts was screaming for help and my nose start- man gets the justice that Kenni Shaw was are with the victims as they recover from ed profusely bleeding, so the attacker ran robbed of. The Baltimore City Police has their injuries.” t back into his car and sped off. I suffered a to extend themselves beyond the rhetoric black eye, pain in my head, a sore nose, and deal with acts of hate against the LG- and a chipped front tooth, which was also BTQ community. Kenni Shaw remains the cracked in the back. No items were stolen example of Baltimore’s failure to protect from us; this was purely a hate crime.” the gay community and the police depart- Lemmerman described his attacker as ment has a ways to go in dealing with its being “light skinned” to the City Paper and own homophobia.” driving a light “Creamsicle-colored” orange Jer Welter, deputy executive director sports car. He had recalled being the vic- and managing attorney for FreeState Le- tim of a gay bashing three years ago when gal Project, reviewed these two incidents he hosted a club night at the Get Down in and offered the following statement: Fells Point. “As Baltimore is seeing an uptick in vio- Noting the impending closing of the lent crime generally, it is particularly dis- Hippo, Lemmerman said, “We need our turbing to see these two violent assaults gay places. It’s really nice to have a safe that it appears may have been motivated place. I understand why [gay bars] are by anti-gay prejudice. FreeState Legal and closing, but it’s great to be with your com- the other members of the Baltimore Police munity and identify with each other. I see Commissioner’s LGBT Advisory Council BALTIMORE OUTLOUD JUNE 26, 2015 • BALTIMOREOUTLOUD.COM t 3 NEWS // local Ted Blankenship Leaves Moveable Feast PW’s Loses BY JOE GARVEY cation Resource Organization (HERO) and people who are sick and need their support.