Hate Crime on Toronto Subway

[Rockheart]

This kind of stuff happens in Canada too, plenty.
There is no excuse or reason for it.

No one here stepped in either and they were right on the subway, this guy had to pull the emergency stop himself.
At least he had some capacity to fight back, but didn't run away.
He should not have to run, but he probably could have.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toront...y-bashing.html

http://www.xtra.ca/public/National/U...ime-10112.aspx

[Alexis]

This kind of stuff happens in Canada too, plenty.
There is no excuse or reason for it.

No one here stepped in either and they were right on the subway, this guy had to pull the emergency stop himself.
At least he had some capacity to fight back, but didn't run away.
He should not have to run, but he probably could have.

They wanted to publicize what happened to me in Vancouver too but I really didn't want the media attention or to be further made into a target. I insisted that it not make the news as I was scared that the friends of the 2 guys I hospitalized would have my picture and be out to get me..

It happens in Canada lots, often goes unreported to out of fear..

It's more likely too that no one would intervene in a one on one fight between 2 guys..

In my last case I was brutally attacked by 6 guys right in front of my apartment building in the west end of Vancouver. I still remember them saying "you should die you fucking fagot" when they jumped me. They were out "gay bashing" and wanted to seriously hurt some one..

Funny tho.. I got assaulted in hate crimes 3-4 times as a boy, only got hurt the one time thankfully. I've never been assaulted in a hate crime as a TG tho, just raped once..

[Rockheart]

It's hard when there is a group of people too.

One time I went to a nightclub in Calgary called "The Whiskey" with a very passable tgirl. As like most clubs in Calgary it is a redneck cowboy themed establishment.

As we are leaving at about 2am, 5 very large guys came out of the club following us and taunting us.
The were yelling at my companion that she was not a real girl.
I was like WTF, and they were coming over to confront us.

The street was full of people all watching and not saying anything but laughing. I doubt anyone would ever have stepped in, but there is always plenty of police around in Calgary at closing time because of the rednecks.

Suddenly my tgirl says, "fuck you guys, Craig my bodyguard will protect me".
I'm like WHAT! and now these guys are in my face.

Bodyguard eh? they say?
I am nose to nose with the leader of the pack.
I'm shitting myself and had the urge to flee, I am 6' 3" 220lb but they were almost all bigger than me.
My feelings to protect my friend were slightly stonger than my urge to run, so I stood my ground. I was a little concerned that my friend threw me to the wolves and half expected her to run away, leaving me there to take the beating.

After several moments of flexing comments and tension, it comes out that they know each other. All these guys are from Brazil and down there no real stigma to associating with Tgirls. So they are just straight forward and almost joking about it.

I was relieved and a little pissed off,
but in the end they did not make me flinch.

[oscarrio]

It's more likely too that no one would intervene in a one on one fight between 2 guys..I've never been assaulted in a hate grime as a TG tho, just raped once..

Exactly, i know i probably wouldn't get immediately involved unless it was obvious that one person is clearly not fighting back while cowering in fear. However, the article does say that a "scuffle ensued" while he was defending himself. So again maybe why no one instantly intervened.

It also says "late on thursday" implying there may not have been too many witnesses or good samaritans loitering about.

It sucks that we live in a world where people have to be worried about being attacked while they're simply going about their day-to-day lives. But it's reality, and a week-long-sun-baked-turd one at that. It's simply about having an educated public properly informed about accepting people for who they are and not who you think they should be.

I've never been assaulted in a hate grime as a TG tho, just raped once..

fuck, that's some shit right there. A good friend of mine lived in North Van for a number of years and had to flee the town because he just hated the way the social values of the community had been withering away like a fossilized raisin.

[discovigilante]

Alexis I have great respect for you for openly talking about those crimes and cruelties committed against you.

And cheers to Mr. Chaisson for fighting to make this story known and treated seriously.

The story of Matthew Shepard, his horrifying death and the beauty of the Matthew Shepard Foundation does excellent work to address and resolve social expression of hatred towards queers.
http://www.matthewshepard.org/