02/21/2007
72-Year-Old Detroit Man Paralyzed After Brutal Anti-Gay Attack
A disgusting story out of Detroit — a 72-year-old man pursued and beaten in a sick attack that appears to have been motivated by the man's perceived sexual orientation.
"The victim, Andrew Anthos (right), was riding a city bus back to his residence at Detroit's Windsor Tower apartments on Feb. 13 when another male passenger asked him if he was gay, Anthos's niece, Athena Fedenis said. Anthos was followed by the man from the bus and beaten with a pipe in front of his apartment, Fedenis said."
Due to the repeated beating, Anthos is now paralyzed from the neck down and cannot speak above a whisper.
Said the victim's aunt: "It just doesn't make any sense. Why do people have to hurt each other?"
This is what you get in America for being perceived as gay.
Detroit police are investigating the attack and asking for anyone with information to come forward. Unfortunately, sexual orientation is not covered under Michigan's hate crime statutes.
Man Left Paralyzed In Brutal Beating [WDIV]
Posted 8:30 AM EST by Andy Towle in Crime, Detroit, Michigan, News | Permalink
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Give me a break Jeff Lambert. I'm a Republican/Independent and I was the attempted victim of a queer-bashing by a gang on the subway (NYC). I'm satisfied to say I kicked the ass of the head one, stopped the train myself, and they all fled before the cops could get there and bust them. I have one scar on my face from it, but it was worth it. And I'll bet you any amount of money those thug "peeps" were not Republicans. (This latest attack in Detroit can probably more safely be attributed to Hardaway's comments).
Posted by: Joe T. | Feb 21, 2007 10:43:42 PM
LOL @ subtle racism.
Posted by: Je | Feb 22, 2007 12:14:44 AM
I agree with JE. I can feel the troll-like sentiments just bubbling under the surface. And we don't even know the race of the guy! But since it's Detroit...must be a black guy, right? And if it is, so what? Are we gonna lynch him?
Posted by: FanGirlHater | Feb 22, 2007 2:41:10 AM
Fangirl: Why do you think the assailants must be black guys because it's in Detroit? That area also has a lot of white, Hispanic, Arabs, and Indians.
Posted by: Joe T. | Feb 22, 2007 3:09:45 AM
I say, "Act Up, Fight Back!" I'm a senior citizen (ol' troll) and was beaten senseless in Atlanta in 1980. I would not survive a similar beating today, at my current age. So I am on guard and prepared. I (legally) carry a handgun, am a very good shot and prepared to use it. I can be a dangerous pl' troll if I have to. I plan to survive a little while longer.
Posted by: JakeT | Feb 22, 2007 7:26:00 AM
I say, "Act Up, Fight Back!" I'm a senior citizen (ol' troll) and was beaten senseless in Atlanta in 1980. I would not survive a similar beating today, at my current age. So I am on guard and prepared. I (legally) carry a handgun, am a very good shot and prepared to use it. I can be a dangerous ol' troll if I have to. I plan to survive a little while longer.
Posted by: JakeT | Feb 22, 2007 7:28:10 AM
I just want to say "not so fast" to those pushing the notion that you're safer from gay-bashing in glorious Europe. You might want to read Bruce Bawer's "While Europe Slept". Violent gay-bashing incidents and other hate-crimes are not uncommon Europe, and it's getting worse.
Posted by: The Thin Man | Feb 22, 2007 8:24:48 AM
You go Jaket.
Posted by: Jaket | Feb 22, 2007 1:13:25 PM
The last post was by me not Jaket.
TheThinMan is right. Europe is getting worse because of Muslims. I know some of you will jump on me because of that but IT'S TRUE. They are bring their hatred to other countries. I wouldn't be surprised if the attacker in this case was Muslim since Detroit has the largest Muslim population outside of the Middle East and South East Asia.
Posted by: Jack! | Feb 22, 2007 1:17:17 PM
We'll see, Jack, when they (hopefully) catch the culprit. But let's not jump the gun. It's 100 percent true what you say about Europe though. Most old gays are so politically-correct though that they won't admit to that. They still only want it to be white Christian men who attack them. This divorced-from-reality attitude of so many gays is what will ultimately cause their demise. (Let's hope younger gay guys are more rational, more in tune with reality, then these old coots who are still trying to hold on to the ideas that gays should be united with every non-white group).
Posted by: Mike J. | Feb 22, 2007 1:37:32 PM
Have the utterly hear-no-see-no race-blind shrieks forgotten that this teen thug attack follows on the heels of Tim Hardaway's proud proclamation, "I HATE GAY PEOPLE"? Of course, race is relevant. Perhaps Oprah can lead the reconciliation rites.
Posted by: Antaeus | Feb 23, 2007 1:47:17 AM
Antaeus: In fairness, though, we don't know the race of the attacker, yet. I usually blame the person himself for his own psychotic nature rather than the influence of a public figure's statements. But, if one WAS to attribute this homophobic attack to the influence of a public figure, I'd go with the two most publicized recent ones: that of Isaiah Washington and Tim Hardaway.
Posted by: Joe T. | Feb 23, 2007 2:53:02 AM
Mike, it seems you are the one who is divorced from reality. Perhaps you've simply forgotten, but it's true, gays do come in more colors than white.
Posted by: Je | Feb 23, 2007 2:20:14 PM
I'm homosexual. I'm a trained amateur boxer and trained in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Any "man" tries to bash me and he's in some serious shit. Got a knife in my car and registered weapon and won't think twice to use both. I only need half a reason to go ape shit on your ass...and I will enjoy it. AND there won't be a court in this land that will convict me because it'll be self-defense.
Think about that straight motherfuckers.
Posted by: Mark | Feb 23, 2007 11:52:02 PM
As a resident of the area, I can tell you there is a goos reason for wanting to know the race of the perp. African-Americans are increasingly becoming vehemently or publically homophobic. Detroit's mayor, Kwame Kilpatrick, has publically stated the he "doesn't want his boys growing up next to gays." his mother, Carolyn Kilpatrick, the newly elected head of the Congressional Black Caucus, has gone from a 100% HRC Congressional Scorecard rating, to a 55% ratiing.
Posted by: Michael McCarthy | Feb 24, 2007 11:24:20 AM
God bless Andrew Anthos and his friends and family. Poor soul. I've heard now he has died. Probably better than being left so broken. How can people be so heartless. We have to keep up our vigilance and fight.
Posted by: Pugzz | Feb 24, 2007 6:15:52 PM
The police often don't even investigate antigay crimes in Michigan. Mid Michigan and northern Michigan are among the most dangerous places in the USA if you are gay. Gays are often abused by the police, and the justice system here (including judges and prosecutors) target gay men as often as criminals do. There are a few places that are safe for gays (Saugatuck, Douglas, Ann Arbor, and Ferndale), but for the most part Michigan is homophobic (and racist -racial profiling is also common here).
Posted by: Lukey | Feb 24, 2007 6:58:10 PM
My heart goes out to Andrew. May his ordeal be the guiding light to a new (and safer) day.
Posted by: TP | Feb 25, 2007 11:45:02 AM