SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Lesbian, gay, bi, trans people protest attacks
SAN DIEGO
11 injured in attack on Pride march
In San Diego July 24, a massive march for lesbian/
gay/bi/trans rights was temporarily halted after someone threw
a military-issue tear-gas grenade into one of the contingents.
Eleven marchers were hospitalized. Untold others were sickened
by the tear-gas attack.
The contingent that was targeted by the reactionary attack
was Family Matters. Family Matters is a group for lesbian and
gay parents and their families and for those considering
parenthood. The 70-person contingent included small children
and infants.
The attack took place near the site where a group of
right-wing bigots was picketing the Pride march.
Independent journalist Rex Wockner interviewed several
marchers after the incident. Guido Gaietta told Wockner: "All
of a sudden there were tears in my eyes, and it got in my
throat. It was pretty nasty. We ran for a couple of blocks to
escape it and our faces were all red. Some people were vomiting
in the street."
Yet despite the attack, marchers regrouped and the march
resumed after about 20 minutes. This year's Pride event drew
over 100,000 people, according to official police
estimates.
"Our community didn't run away in fear," said Pride
Executive Director Mandy Shultz. "We came back and were able to
continue the parade and celebrate and be a strong, united
front. It was a horrible and unfortunate moment and yet it was
beautifully gratifying to see that we could all stand
together."
WEST HOLLYWOOD
Trans attack stirs protest
Demonstrators from throughout the Los Angeles region
converged on West Hollywood July 24 to protest an attack on a
group of trans people. The trans people had been attacked as
they were leaving the Carl's Junior hamburger stand at La Brea
and Melrose the night of July 21.
Four people were hospitalized after a group of men shouting
anti-gay and anti-trans epithets attacked the group and beat
them with baseball bats.
The attack comes at a time when right-wing violence against
lesbians, gay men, bisexual and trans people is soaring
nationally.
Right-wing organizations, often disguised as churches, are
filling the Internet and the air waves with open calls for a
war against people of color, Jews, and women, as well as
lesbian/gay/bi/trans people.
--Preston Wood
This article is copyright under a Creative Commons License.
Workers World, 55 W. 17 St., NY, NY 10011
Email: ww@workers.org
Subscribe wwnews-subscribe@workersworld.net
Support independent news http://www.workers.org/orders/donate.php)
HOME :: U.S. NEWS :: WORLD NEWS :: EDITORIALS :: SUBSCRIBE :: DONATE
Email
this article
Printable
page