You are here: Home » Hot Topics » Anti-Gay » Gay Bashing Rocks Quiet Brooklyn Neighborhood

Gay Bashing Rocks Quiet Brooklyn Neighborhood

03/10/2010- by Natasia Langfelder

Carroll Gardens is a sleepy neighborhood in Brooklyn. Located right off of the largely queer Park Slope, many LGBT New Yorkers are moving Carroll Gardens for the slightly cheaper real estate, to meet others in their community and to raise families. Carroll Gardens is one of the most diverse neighborhoods in NYC, boasting middle class professionals from all races and walks of live. That is why, the gay-bashing that occurred last week has shocked both Carroll Gardens residents and City Officials.

The NYPD are looking for five men who beat a 22-year-old man on the street last week. The men jumped him, beat him with their fists and shouted anti-gay slurs at him.

The NYPD says the man was attacked last Tuesday morning at Luquer Street and Hamilton Avenue as he left a gay and lesbian party at a bar, about 12:50 a.m. on March 2. Police say, the attackers, called the victim a “faggot” and punched him numerous times in the face, knocking him down and causing him to suffer a gash on the back of his head. The victim was treated at Lutheran Medical Center. So far no arrests have been made. Detectives from the NYPD’s Hate Crimes Task Force are searching for the suspects, but investigators don’t have a lot to go on. The only description of the five men is that they are all Latino. Luckily, there is surveillance video taken outside the bar that will hopefully lead the police to the attackers identities.

City officials, including out lesbian Christine Quinn, gave statements that refer to the diversity of Carroll Gardens as a strength of the neighborhood.

City Council Speaker Christine Quinn said: “Something like this that still happens in the city of New York is terribly upsetting,” Quinn said. “We’re a city where diversity is our greatest strength.”

City Council Member Brad Lander said: “Carroll Gardens is a diverse community. We have no room for hate in our community. We embrace every race, religion and sexual orientation. We will not tolerate hate and violence in Carroll Gardens or anywhere else in New York City.”

However, it is possible that in this case, diversity has worked against the LBGT community. When you mix different backgrounds and cultures, you also mix together people who may not accept each other’s values and lifestyles. It’s sad but true, diversity is not a panacea to violence and intolerance. Diversity is the first step, but it is not the last. There should be community programs in place to educate people on the importance of tolerance, acceptance and peace. Let’s all hope for the victim’s speedy recovery and for increased tolerance towards the LGBT community.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Anti-Gay Attack by 5 Reported in Carroll Gardens Area of Brooklyn (towleroad.com)
• Something in Carroll Gardens May Still Be Sacred: Outgoing Councilman Bill de Blasio is… (curbed.com)