Reply #10: I think more of us should learn

[The Brethren]

to take care of ourselves. I was brought up to not let others push me around. I was also brought up to be polite and rational. However, there is noting rational about violence. If you can talk your way out of it and no one gets hurt - great, but that doesn't always work. We should be encouraged to defend ourselves anyway we can. I've never been assaulted for being gay. However, I have been threatened and assaulted. And up to more recently, I've dealt with it by trying to stay calm and trying not to become angry. But I've changed over time. The last time I dealt with it, which happened with a stranger at night, I turned the table and stood up to him. Not a very rational thing to do; he was bigger then me and I was by myself. But fear and anger can make a very powerful combination. To my surprise he ran to his car and took off. I was lucky esp. considering I have never hit anyone before. But I am tired of other people thinking that it is ok to hurt innocent people, myself included. I don't know the right way to actually hit someone if there is one, but I do know if anyone were to actually do that again, I would defend myself anyway I need to and wouldn't think twice about it.

I particularly feel awful incases like this where gay men are being singled out and viciously beaten for being gay. And it usually involves a group of males vs. a gay man by himself. The perpetrators in these cases are cowards.