Anti-gay vandalism is a reminder that hate can hide in even the most accepting communities
David Webb The Rare Reporter
It’s taken a while for the ugly specter of anti-gay hate crime to rise over Cedar Creek Lake, but it was probably inevitable.
With two gay bars and large numbers of gay and lesbian couples living together in full-time residences and weekend homes, the community has become highly visible over the past couple of decades. For the most part the straight community has always seemed tolerant, but it is a conservative religious area.
To the best of everyone’s recollection, no one on the lake had ever reported being harassed, threatened or beat up or having their property vandalized because they were gay —until June 20.
That’s when a gay male couple living in Payne Springs woke up to find extensive damage to their truck.
They found the windshield busted, all four tires slashed, parts ripped off the truck and anti-gay graffiti — including the words “Die Fag” — scrawled all over the truck. The damage was so bad that the vehicle will be unusable for several weeks, and the couple cannot really afford to rent a car in the meantime.
Initially, the couple posted a message on their Facebook page with pictures of the damage. But they later took it down and asked for privacy. They said they just wanted to move on and did not want to become a cause for the community to rally around.
It is likely the men are suffering from psychological trauma. Hate crime researchers point out that victims are often left terrified, fearing retribution and feeling vulnerable to more attacks if there is widespread attention drawn to them.
The possibility exists that there may have been other anti-gay hate crimes committed on the lake, and they were never reported because of those same fears.
According to the FBI’s most recent “Hate Crime Statistics” report, almost 18 percent of all hate crimes occurring in the U.S. are attributed to sexual orientation bias. The crimes occur all across the country in cities and towns of all sizes and demographics.
In addition to the impact on the victims, hate crimes reportedly also have an intimidating effect on the entire community to which the victims belong.
That’s why it is important for the community to rally behind such victims and to band together in speaking out against hate crimes. Usually, there are supportive straight people who want to join the cause, and that is already happening on the lake.
Immediately after hearing about the crime, a straight couple sent an e-mail volunteering to be a part of any activities that might be undertaken to promote tolerance and discourage hate crimes.
That’s what is happening now, too, in Savannah, Ga., where two Marines from a South Carolina military base were arrested recently on charges they allegedly assaulted a gay man because they thought he winked at them. The LGBT community held a rally this week in the square where the gay man was found unconscious.
It’s also a good idea to take steps to combat hate crimes with community events because they rarely are isolated incidents. The perpetrators of hate crimes often begin with lower-level types of crime such as harassment and vandalism and go on to more violent activity when they don’t suffer any repercussions from the earlier crimes.
Just about everyone realizes now that June is celebrated across the country as Gay Pride Month, and that draws more attention to the LGBT community. The national debate about gay rights, such as the proposal to abolish “don’t ask, don’t tell” has the same effect.
If nothing else, everyone needs to be aware of the danger of hate crime activity in an area and to be careful. It can happen to anyone at anytime, almost anywhere.
David Webb is a former staff writer for the Dallas Voice who lives on Cedar Creek Lake now. He is the author of the blog TheRareReporter.blogspot.com. He can be reached at davidwaynewebb@embarqmail.com.
This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition June 25, 2010.
please do NOT force these men into doing something they have already said they do not want to do – yes, the community should rally behind them, but what part of “respect our privacy” do people not get? Whether it’s “psychological trauma” and fearing retribution or something else, they have their own reasons, and I sincerely hope that if needed, they do seek help for those things. But again, that does not mean that the community has to drag them into this, it’s great they’ve already got the hetero support – but it was also hetero’s that did this to them, and truthfully yes, whats to say that next time it’s more than just a vehicle? Cars, trucks, and other things can be replaced – your life cannot! I know people will not agree with my point – but all I am saying is, if the community wants to make an issue of it, then do it, just do not expect, require, or force these two men into doing something they’ve stated they don’t want to do…and “peer pressure” will be tough for them to refuse. I’d like to think that if it were me, I would be shouting from the rooftops, and hoping the community would rally behind me – but on the flip side, I have never been in this situation (thankfully) so I honestly do not know what, or how I would actually feel.
A random rally advocating, educating, agitating can be held at Cedar Creek Lake without invading these people’s privacy. They don’t have to be involved, that’s what activists are for. Sounds as though Cedar Creek Lake needs a good dose of waking up to the face LGBTQ’s are not going anywhere, they are not going away, and will continue to live their lives as they need to. The voice is all the community has right now, and they definately need to use it to educate. This can all be done without even including the persons that want privacy. Education is key to equal rights and the end to this intolerance.
OMG! Queens get a spine! If you can’t stand up for yourselves then why report the crime!!! Climb back in the closet, and keep setting us (GLBT) back in time!
The couple who were the victims of the hate crime should not be criticized for their reluctance to have attention drawn to them. There is no organization in Cedar Creek Lake’s LGBT community to support them. Without leaders to represent the lake’s LGBT community’s interest to law enforcement agencies, public officials, the media and the public at large, it is understandable. Their feelings and actions are consistent with the fears and concerns that all hate crime victims experience. I discuss this more on my blog today at https://www.therareporter.blogspot.com
Uh, correction: https://www.therarereporter.blogspot.com
for the record – I am not criticizing the couple for their decision, and no, I don’t take it that anyone is saying that I was – I just re-read my first comment, and realized it could be construed that way.
and @ OMG – you’ve obviously never lived in a small town or community – where even the police will do nothing to help you, nor will anyone else – though I see what you’re saying as “then why report it in the first place” but, maybe this is the case here – when they did report it the police, or whoever didn’t show any initiative to try and help, or just completely blew them off, and they felt it better to step out of the spotlight – neither you nor I know all of the details to their decision – but calling each other names within our own community does nothing to advance our cause either!
“Usually, there are supportive straight people who want to join the cause, and that is already happening on the lake.”
I would say that always there are supportive straight people who join the cause. I read about them and know many of them personally. These supportive straight people usually include religious persons and conservative persons.
I know I don’t represent every person here at the lake, however, myself and a vast majority of weekenders/residents welcome every human here, NO MATTER what their sexual preference. My friends and neighbors around the lake, be who you are, live the lifestyle you choose and know that those who cast stones probably do because of something they are hiding or in fear of in their own closet!!