what divide?

on the front page of cnn today:

gay drag performer was attacked and beaten in new york city by a group of youths - two weeks before he was going to perform at ny pride.

omaha methodist church welcomes same sex couples into its congregation - two members had a gay son and wanted him to be accepted just like anyone else. vote: 85-5.

lesson learned:

1. there are assholes everywhere, and there are nice people everywhere, regardless of where you live.
2. come out to your parents. seriously. just because they live in a "red" state doesn't mean you're going to be tarred and feathered and run out on a rail. just behave like everyone else and present yourself like a normal human being. resist the temptation of "sticking it to the man" and behaving like a stereotype or showing up just to make a scene, because you think it'll be funny to ruffle the feathers of "small town folk." listen, if a methodist church in omaha has voted to open its doors to gay people with an overwhelming majority, it is a very good sign.
3. i don't care what state or city you're in. if a group of youths start chasing you, scream and RUN. no one is truly safe anyhere.

update: the victim was KEVIN AVIANCE?!!! and this happened in the EAST VILLAGE?! oh, that shit JUST AIN'T RIGHT.

update 2: this happened outside of THE PHOENIX?!

okay, this is about as likely as george w. bush getting the shit kicked out of him and being called a "stupid texan" over and over again while standing in the driveway at the crawford ranch. what gives?!

yes, i know the point of this post was to illustrate that things are often not what they seem, but this is out of control!

the ny times said it best:

Mr. Patton said the attack on such a high-profile figure was likely to raise fears in the gay community.

"People will say: Here it is. Kevin Aviance in the East Village in boy's clothes, in a place that's supposed to be ours, getting beat up," he said.

(and at roughly the same time, three gay men were beaten in astoria, queens (scroll to the bottom). astoria is described in the article as a "working class neighborhood." i would disagree. it's pretty much flat out commuter artist/yuppie now.)