3 CHRON
Pride Golde 1999
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THE NETWORK
An Organization Supporting And Promoting Lesbian Business-Owners And Professionals In Our Community
The
n
Network
Center staff warns of danger zone for revelers
by Dawn E. Leach
Cleveland Staff at the Lesbian-Gay Community Service Center are concerned about a pattern of anti-gay violence being reported in an area frequented by gay men and lesbians. Center director Linda Malicki said that the area on Detroit Ave. between W. 85th St. and West Blvd. in Cleveland, an area that contains two popular gay nightclubs, has become a danger zone.
Staff member Jen Kruger, who takes anti-violence reports at the center, said there are a number of factors that she believes are involved in the recent pattern. One is the warmer summer weather, which usually brings an increase in crime.
Kruger also cited poor lighting and the reconstruction of the Detroit Ave. bridge over RTA and railroad tracks at West Blvd., which has traffic detoured away from the
area.
"That area is not such a safe area anyway," Kruger said. "Now Detroit Avenue is closed, and that lessens the traffic that travels through there."
Also, there are two popular gay bars in that area, the Cage at 9506 Detroit Ave. and Rockies at 9208 Detroit Ave., and people will often bar-hop between the two on foot.
"When you're drunk and not aware of your surroundings, it makes you a prime target," Kruger said. "When you're in a party mentality, you're just not thinking about that."
Tom Seger, 30, said he was doing all the things that are recommended for safety when he and his friend Patrick Scullin, 28, were attacked early in the morning on May 15. The two friends had been dancing that night at the Cage. When they left the bar at about 3:15 am, they left together. They were aware of their surroundings.
As they walked down West 95th St. toward Seger's car, they were jumped by
two men.
"Out of the bushes I heard, 'Faggot, queer, you're going to get it' and then something whacked me in the back," Seger said.
The two attackers sprang out of the bushes and began hitting them with heavy plastic milk crates. Seger and Scullin ran, but the attackers caught up with them at Seger's car, wielding a heavy pipe and claiming to have a gun, demanding money. Seger and Scullin pulled money out their wallets, and Seger tossed some on the ground, creating enough distraction to be able to escape.
"Thank God for remote keyless entry," Seger remembered thinking. “I saw those lights blink we're getting in the car."
They then went to MetroHealth Hospital, where Scullin got stitches for a gash in the back of his head and Seger was treated for bruises on his back, after being checked for broken bones.
"A lot of people say I was lucky," Seger said. "I say: Was I? No. It shouldn't have
happened in the first place. This is 1999."
Seger said he reported the incident to Cleveland police, and was impressed with the response he got from Detective Kime Clifford in the city hate crimes unit.
Another victim who filed an anti-violence report at the Lesbian-Gay Center reported a very different experience with police, however. She said was standing on Detroit with a friend early in the morning on May 23 when she saw an injured man run into the Cage with two teens and a young man in hot pursuit.
One of the teens threw something at the woman, who then flagged down a police officer. She said that the officer engaged in an argument with the teen who had attacked her, but did not take him into custody, and refused to take a report on the incident.
"When you're drunk and not aware of your surroundings, it makes
you a prime target."
Kruger said it is hard to get a clear picture of the extent of the problem in the Detroit Avenue area because most incidents generally go unreported. She has received three reports so far this year, but center staff have heard about four other incidents that have not been reported, she said.
Kruger said that reluctance of gay men and lesbians to report crimes against them to police is a significant factor in escalating levels of violence.
"It seems to be a pattern developing," Kruger explained. "When people perpetrate crime and get away with it, they get even braver the next time."
However, Kruger has been working with Cleveland's community relations board to come up with solutions to the problem.
Carrie Thomas, who handles community relations for Cleveland's first police district, told Kruger she hopes victims will come forward and report crimes to police, but if they want to remain anonymous, they can file anti-violence reports with the Lesbian-Gay Center. Kruger can then relate the dates and brief descriptions of incidents to Thomas, who will then be able to increase police surveillance of the area.
Meanwhile, Kruger stressed that revelers need to be cautious, whether they're in the Detroit Avenue area or elsewhere. "I want everyone to enjoy a happy and safe Pride."
The Cleveland Lesbian-Gay Center can be reached at 216-522-1999. For other parts of Ohio, anti-violence reports can be made to the Buckeye Region Anti-Violence Organization at 614-268-9622.
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