• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • About Towleroad
  • Towleroad on Social Media
  • Privacy Policy

Towleroad Gay News

Gay Blog Towleroad: More than gay news | gay men

  • Politics
  • Health
  • Travel
  • Gay Pride
  • Music
  • Sports
  • Law/Justice
  • Celebrities
  • Men
  • Space
  • Science
  • Gay Iconography
  • Madonna
  • Books
  • Monkeypox
  • Film/TV

Houston Gay Activist Shot In Apparent Hate Crime

John Wright March 10, 2015

Gaspari

Between events like this one and this one, Houston has seen its share of anti-LGBT hatred in recent months. So it's hardly surprising to see some of that hatred filtering down onto the streets. 

In fact, Houston has experienced a rash of anti-LGBT hate crimes of late. And amid all the rhetoric from opponents of the city's Equal Rights Ordinance, is anyone really surprised? 

In the latest incident, Houston gay activist John Gaspari (shown above with Mayor Annise Parker) is recovering after being shot in the stomach in an apparent hate crime in the city's Montrose gayborhood, Project Q Houston reports:

A gay Houston man was beaten, shot, robbed and called an anti-gay slur as he was attacked by three men while walking home from a Montrose gay bar.

John Gaspari was attacked near the intersection of Genesee and Cleveland – less than a half-mile from Meteor – as he walked from the bar about 3:30 a.m. on Feb. 15, according to KHOU and About Magazine. The robbers took his wallet, jewelry and cell phone, beat him and shot him in the stomach. Gaspari said the assailants yelled, "Get the fag."

More from KHOU-TV: 

"I'm just really grateful to be alive," said Gaspari, who spent nearly 2 weeks in the hospital. "My last memory was of them tackling me." … 

"I probably won't walk down the street alone anymore, I will wait for an Uber or drive," he says.

According to About Magazine, a witness called police and reported Gaspari lying on the ground as the three suspects kicked him. The witness was able to get the license number from the suspects' vehicle, which turned out to be stolen. Not surprisingly, police insist the incident was a random robbery, not a hate crime. 

Gaspari had recently lost his job, and supporters launched an Indiegogo fundraiser to help with expenses during his recovery, which could last 6-8 months. The fundraiser, which expired last week, raised $3,446: 

John has been so generous with his time and his money since moving to Houston several years ago. He has supported so many LGBT causes, organizations and events. Now its time for our community to rally in support of John.

As many of you know, John has had a string of bad luck since moving here. He faced constant gay-oriented discrimination and harassment at this job. And the Friday before the attack, he was laid off. But through it all, John has kept his sweet good humor and has been such an asset to our community.

It's been 24 years since gay banker Paul Broussard was murdered on the streets of Houston, in one of the earliest and most notorious anti-gay hate crimes in US history. When will it end? 

Topics: LGBT Rights, News More Posts About: gay rights, hate crime, houston, LGBT Rights, News, Texas, Texas

Related Posts
  • Jussie Smollett Song Drops; Produced Since Prison Release Pending Appeal, ‘Thank You God’: LISTEN
  • Jussie Smollett Gets 150 Days For Faking Hate Crime; “If Anything Happens To Me … I Did Not Do It To Myself. I Am Not Suicidal!” He Yelled Leaving Court
  • Idaho, Alabama, Wisconsin Advance Anti-Trans Youth Bills, Including Life In Prison Punishment For Providing Puberty Blockers
  • Opinion: The Right-Wing Airing of Imaginary Grievances Like Sex Ed Is Not and Never Has Been Used To Groom

    Opinion: The Right-Wing Airing of Imaginary Grievances Like Sex Ed Is Not and Never Has Been Used To Groom

      Published by NJ.com   Let’s start this post off with a small bit of objective truth: There is no such thing as the widespread use of sexual education curriculum to groom young children. None. It …Read More »
  • Tan France gets parenting advice from Gigi Hadid

    Tan France gets parenting advice from Gigi Hadid

      Published by BANG Showbiz English   Tan France gets parenting tips from Gigi Hadid. The 39-year-old star and his husband Rob France welcomed their son Ismail into the world via surrogate last July and he’s …Read More »
  • U.S. health officials releasing some Jynneos vaccine doses for monkeypox – CDC

    U.S. health officials releasing some Jynneos vaccine doses for monkeypox – CDC

    Published by Reuters WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. health officials are in the process of releasing some Jynneos vaccine doses for use in monkeypox cases, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Monday, adding there …Read More »
  • Dame Angela Lansbury to receive Lifetime Achievement gong at the Tonys

    Dame Angela Lansbury to receive Lifetime Achievement gong at the Tonys

    Published by BANG Showbiz English Dame Angela Lansbury is set to receive a Lifetime Achievement gong at the Tony Awards. The 96-year-old actress – who has won five Tonys during her career – will be honoured …Read More »
Previous Post: « The Other SCOTUS Case We Should Care About
Next Post: 10 Reasons Cambodia Should Top Your Gay Travel Wish List »

Primary Sidebar

News

  • Texas Governor says 15 killed in elementary school shooting

    Texas Governor says 15 killed in elementary school shooting

  • Critic slams Mike Pence’s ‘delusions of grandeur’: He’s might be turning on Trump — but he’s no GOP savior

    Critic slams Mike Pence’s ‘delusions of grandeur’: He’s might be turning on Trump — but he’s no GOP savior

  • Awkward! Kardashian Family Allows Dolce & Gabbana To Sponsor Kourtney’s Wedding, Despite ‘Cheap’ Shade & Backlash

    Awkward! Kardashian Family Allows Dolce & Gabbana To Sponsor Kourtney’s Wedding, Despite ‘Cheap’ Shade & Backlash

  • Vladimir Putin’s TV Appearances ‘Staged’ As Russian Leader Continues To Suffer Worsening Health Problems

    Vladimir Putin’s TV Appearances ‘Staged’ As Russian Leader Continues To Suffer Worsening Health Problems

Break

  • Toni Collette, Mark Ruffalo and Noami Ackie join ‘Parasite’ Filmmaker Bong Joon-ho’s new movie And it Sounds Mind Blowing

    Toni Collette, Mark Ruffalo and Noami Ackie join ‘Parasite’ Filmmaker Bong Joon-ho’s new movie And it Sounds Mind Blowing

  • Starbucks to completely exit Russia after Ukraine invasion

    Starbucks to completely exit Russia after Ukraine invasion

  • Evan Spiegel & Miranda Kerr Pay Off $10 Million In Loans Of Otis College’s Graduating Class

    Evan Spiegel & Miranda Kerr Pay Off $10 Million In Loans Of Otis College’s Graduating Class

  • Vladimir Putin’s Daughter SECRETLY Living In Germany With Man Named Igor Zelensky

    Vladimir Putin’s Daughter SECRETLY Living In Germany With Man Named Igor Zelensky

RSS Partner Links

  • Nick Cannon Doesn’t Think The Mothers Of His Eight Children Need To Get Along
  • Student Uses CURLY HAIR To Get Around Don't Say Gay + Gervais Jumps On Anti-Trans Bandwagon + Dorothy's Gingham Dress Yanked From Sale + MORE! — 12-PACK
  • OMG, LISTEN TO THIS: Madonna teams with Sickick for ‘Frozen’ remix ‘Frozen On Fire’
  • OMG, WATCH: Jinkx Monsoon paints a self portrait and talks about her big return to Drag Race
  • Chris Hemsworth Stripped Nude By Russell Crowe In THOR: LOVE AND THUNDER Trailer
  • Birthday Sluts
  • Song of the Day: 'Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me' by Eurythmics
  • Page 1 Roundup (05/24)
  • Tennis Tuesday

Most Recent

  • ‘The Kids in the Hall’ review: Sketch comedy is a young person’s game — yet here are older guys just ripping into the form as if they never left

    ‘The Kids in the Hall’ review: Sketch comedy is a young person’s game — yet here are older guys just ripping into the form as if they never left

  • Opinion: The Right-Wing Airing of Imaginary Grievances Like Sex Ed Is Not and Never Has Been Used To Groom

    Opinion: The Right-Wing Airing of Imaginary Grievances Like Sex Ed Is Not and Never Has Been Used To Groom

  • Tan France gets parenting advice from Gigi Hadid

    Tan France gets parenting advice from Gigi Hadid

  • U.S. health officials releasing some Jynneos vaccine doses for monkeypox – CDC

    U.S. health officials releasing some Jynneos vaccine doses for monkeypox – CDC

  • Dame Angela Lansbury to receive Lifetime Achievement gong at the Tonys

    Dame Angela Lansbury to receive Lifetime Achievement gong at the Tonys

  • Factbox: Seven races to watch in Georgia, Alabama midterm primaries, Texas run-offs

    Factbox: Seven races to watch in Georgia, Alabama midterm primaries, Texas run-offs

  • Cybill Shepherd supports Bruce Willis after aphasia diagnosis

    Cybill Shepherd supports Bruce Willis after aphasia diagnosis

Most Commented

Social

Twitter @tlrd | Facebook | Instagram @tlrd
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • About Towleroad
  • Towleroad on Social Media
  • Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2022 · Log in