11/09/2009
Lawrence University Student Targeted in Anti-Gay Halloween Assault
Lawrence University's student paper, The Lawrentian, reports on a hate crime that occurred in the early hours of Sunday, following Halloween:
"The
openly gay student, who was wearing
a dress and carrying baby dolls
for Halloween, was possibly targeted
for the implications of his outfit.
According to the student, he and
a group of friends left the Halloween
party at the co-op house to go to
Topper's Pizza at around 2:30 a.m.
On their way back to campus, the
assaulted student separated from
the others on the corner of Durkee
Street and College Avenue because
he lives in Colman. At the time, he
was still in his costume dress and
holding props and dolls.
In between Avenue Jewelers and
Colman, the student was attacked
by a group of four middle-aged men
who were drunk and wearing masks.
The group of men at first giggled
among themselves. The men
then started to shove the student
around, asking, 'Why are you wearing
a dress?' and 'Are you a fag?'
The student got hit in the back
and in the face. When the student
started yelling for help, the men ran
away laughing.
The student did not realize how
quickly the incident would escalate. 'At first I thought they were just
being d-bags, but then they hit me,'
he said."
Lawrence is located in Appleton, Wisconsin. The attack happened just off campus.
Posted 10:06 AM EST by Andy Towle in Crime, Halloween, News, Wisconsin |
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OMG I live around there. Although, they were probably drunk since there are a lot of bars around there. It's weird that I haven't heard about this until now.
Posted by: Scott E. | Nov 9, 2009 10:56:10 AM
OK, I'll be honest; I just don't 'get' the idea of guys - even gay guys - dressing as women. [Note: I understand drag, which is different] I don't feel being gay is wanting to be a woman. To the contrary, I find it very masculine.
Posted by: Dickster | Nov 9, 2009 11:01:02 AM
I have been to Appleton, Wisconsin several times on business. It's a redneck shit hole. Everyone there is obese and pasty white. Young people have nothing to do but hang out at the 7-11 sniffing glue. The restaurants think iceberg lettuce is sufficient for a vegetable, and fried fat suitable for an entree. It's physically flat, ugly, and has nothing to recommend it. The radio stations play blatantly racist and antigay comedy routines. All anyone talks about is the Green Bay Packers. I'm sorry this kid got attacked, but he would do well to get the hell out of this dump as soon as possible.
Posted by: Jim | Nov 9, 2009 11:02:53 AM
.. what, I'd wanna hit Octomom too..
Posted by: Gridlock | Nov 9, 2009 11:05:09 AM
I'm actually a Lawrence grad. This is horrifying but not incredibly surprising. That being said, I disagree with the "redneck shit hole" comment... Appleton's political and social place in northeastern Wisconsin is a little more nuanced than that. I don't want to use the word "liberal," but it's not all stereotypically redneck conservative. There's also a surprisingly large gay population—I think it's where all the northern WI gay guys migrate to.
I would also like to mention that there *was* anti-gay harassment on campus when I was there, and the university did more or less nothing. The LGBT group had a group house on campus (as many orgs do), and the outside was literally plastered with posters comparing same-sex marriage to dendrophilia, etc. The posters were put up at election time—the WI marriage amendment was on the ballot. They were put up all over campus... offensive, but the covering of the house was harassment at the least. The administration did not release any sort of statement nor take disciplinary action on the group and/or persons responsible.
Posted by: michael | Nov 9, 2009 11:14:13 AM
Another Lawrence Grad ('94). I would totally disagree about the "redneck shit hole" comment. The campus is very liberal and the surrounding community is very welcoming to the student population. As a minority (both racial and sexual orientation) I did not feel uncomfortable in any manner. I lived there only for 4 years and maybe things have changed. It would be sad if it has.
Posted by: Shan | Nov 9, 2009 11:25:40 AM
I was born in Appleton in the early 80's and left in '04, but I wouldn't agree with the "redneck shithole" comment either. If anything this seems more like a case of the "haves" (wealthy Lawrence students) vs the "have-nots" (working class townies).
There should never be excuses for behavior like this, but honestly... walking around off-campus in drag just after bar close probably wasn't the smartest idea. Plus it's cold out! Get a ride instead.
Posted by: MattP | Nov 9, 2009 11:38:02 AM
If you're trying to win people over to our side, calling places that disagree with us "redneck shitholes" isn't really going to help our cause. At all.
Instead, maybe we should be concentrating on what gives rise to homophobic violence and dealing with the perpetrators and their mindset in creative, targeted, and assertive ways. You know, solving problems, instead of making them worse.
Too bad that is so difficult for most of us to figure out.
Posted by: Mitch Shea | Nov 9, 2009 12:52:32 PM
Geesh a reader can't give his opinion about a town without 5 people (4 of which come from that town) *fishy* jumping down his throat?!?! Listen Assholes, I might call Atlantic City trashy and then guy might call it paradise. So STFU and post your own comment without commenting on what others have said. UGH.
Posted by: J. Bocca | Nov 9, 2009 2:33:51 PM
Didn't he watch ' Finding Masculine Halloween Costumes For Your Effeminate Son '?
Pasty white? What're they hipsters? Did they wear skinny jeans too?
That pasty white comment is pretty racist and I'm offended.
Posted by: John in Boston | Nov 9, 2009 4:51:06 PM
Well John In Boston I'm more than sure they're white...So what are you offended at?....LOL
Some more white homophobes....
It knows NO COLORS
Posted by: Mr C | Nov 9, 2009 6:11:07 PM