GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE July 17, 2009

www.GayPeoplesChronicle.com

Attacks send 3 Columbus men to hospital

by Anthony Glassman

Columbus-Red, White and Boom, central Ohio's largest Independence Day celebration, was marred this year by a trio of antigay attacks downtown and in the Short North.

Two of the three assaults, which all occurred within an hour and a half, were on men walking alone. The third victim had been walking with friends, but dropped back to send a text message. When he was attacked, his friends were a half-block ahead of him. "It started as the downtown crowds were in the process of dispersing," said Gloria McCauley, executive director of the Buckeye Region Anti-Violence Organization. "One theory is that this was a group of thugs, possibly from outlying areas. It wouldn't surprise me if they were intoxicated, but they were sober enough to inflict some serious damage."

One attack was near the corner of Hubbard

and North High Street in the Short North, and the other two were a few blocks apart in downtown. All three were in the central Columbus area that contains many of the city's LGBT bars and businesses.

There were six or seven assailants, and in each case, they shouted anti-gay epithets while attacking their victims. They kicked and punched, and police believe brass knuckles were used.

Each of the three victims required medical attention.

"These assailants are cowards," McCauley said. "They're going to go for somebody they perceive to be an easy victim."

"Six or seven thugs attacking one individual is a cowardly incident," she concluded.

"Unfortunately, we don't have positive IDs on any of these assailants, but the victims' descriptions were so close that it makes it likely that it was the same group."

Even though it appears the night of violence

was an isolated occurrence, McCauley fears what could happen if the assailants are not arrested.

"Looking to the future, my fear is that these thugs, having done this one evening, what's going to happen the next time they get together and go drinking?" she asked. "That's fairly typical of hate crime progression. If it's not interrupted, they will do it again."

"That's why we issue the community alerts, so people can keep a wary eye out," she noted.

BRAVO and other organizations always warn against walking alone, and stress the importance of being aware of one's surroundings. Since in all three incidents, the victims were alone, that advice still holds true.

Even the victim who was walking with friends became separated from the rest of his group when he was attacked.

Anyone with information about the attacks is asked to call BRAVO at 614-2947867 or the Columbus Police at 614-6454545.

Sailor's relatives say slaying was hate crime

San Diego-Relatives of a slain sailor are calling the 29-year-old's death a hate crime.

Rose Roy of Beaumont, Texas said her nephew, Navy Seaman August Provost III, had complained a year before about being harassed for being gay.

Roy said she advised Provost to report and document the incidents, but she said the military did little to help.

"He went to the Navy to serve and protect," she said in an interview with Beaumont's KFDM News, "he didn't get protected at all.”

Roy told the Associated Press that the

military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy discouraged her nephew from asking for help.

"That phrase is just stupid because it tells them they have no one to speak to," she said.

The 29-year-old Houston native was found dead June 30 at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, north of San Diego. Roy said the family was told that Provost was shot three times, had his hands and feet bound, his mouth gagged, and body burned.

Democratic Rep. Bob Filner of San Diego said he wants a Defense Department investigation into the death, after leaders of the city's gay community asked him to intervene.

Navy officials told Filner's office that a

communitygroups

man stormed the guard shack in an attack on the camp and caused damage to equipment, in addition to killing Provost.

Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, who represents the Houston area where Provost was raised, called for a deeper investigation into the killing, standing with the slain sailor's family.

Investigators have called the sailor's death a random act unrelated to his sexuality and have taken a "person of interest" into custody. No charges have been filed.

Roy said Provost joined the Navy in March 2008 to pay off college debt. -Associated Press

Ohio Lesbian Festival expands to two days

by Chris Cozad

Columbus-The Ohio Lesbian Festival marks its 20th anniversary this year with many new and exciting changes. The September 19 and 20 event will be the first time that the festival will be held over two days, and will include free camping for attendees.

The festival, began in 1988 and held each year at Frontier Ranch just east of Columbus, features local, regional and nationally known women's music performers and includes a merchant/indie craft market, workshops, an after-hours dance and a relaxing and fun-filled weekend for women. The addition of camping on Saturday night promises to make the festival more acces-

sible to more women, many of whom travel from neighboring states to attend.

In honor of the 20th anniversary, festival organizers have committed to making changes and improvements in the festival to enhance attendees' experience. In response to feedback from past participants, a new expanded and improved food concession will include old favorites (Pat's Chili) and many new menu items. Corn on the cob and a variety of vegetarian options are being added. Because the event is two days long now, there will be breakfast foods available on Sunday morning and the concession stand will stay open later in the evening to meet the needs of late-night snackers.

The Frontier Ranch property has also

undergone renovations that make festival production easier and camping more appealing. A newly remodeled shower house and improvements to the stage area and the concession stands will make for a pleasant experience for everyone. Frontier is at 8836 York Rd., just north of U.S. 40 in Pataskala, 15 miles east of Columbus.

Festival headliners include Cris Williamson, Alix Olson and God-des & She as well as numerous other performers. A full list of performers, many other details and ticket purchase are all available on the website www.ohiolba.org.

Chris Cozad is the co-chair of the Ohio Lesbian Festival.

Ohio Splash to represent state at OutGames

by Charles W Hawkins

Six swimmers from the Ohio Splash will travel this month to Copenhagen, Denmark to compete in the second OutGames.

A large team represented Ohio Splash

in the first Outgames in Montréal three years ago. The expense of the trip and the time needed for preparation and travel made this year's team much smaller, but bigger than the 2008 International Gay and Lesbian Aquatics World Champi-

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onships and much bigger than Ohio's team in the last Gay Games.

Three men and three women will swim in a fifty-meter pool outside of Copenhagen, in the Svommestadium in Bellahojvej. They will compete with almost 1,000 swimmers from all over the world. This event replaces the ILGA World Championship for this year.

New team warm up suits with cute swimsuits will be provided by the team thanks to the efforts of the whole team at various fundraising events.

The swimmers are hoping for a great number of individual and relay medals, but even without awards the trip will be very entertaining and educational.

The Outgames continue from July 25 to August 2.

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