« Cruising Budapest III: Steve Hunt & Chris Hacker | Main | Cruising Budapest III: Lucio Maverick & Michael Lucas »

September 28, 2007

NY Blade column: When Assaulted, Report It. I Did.

By Michael Lucas
Friday, September 21, 2007
http://nyblade.com/2007/9-21/viewpoint/opinion/lucas.cfm

We gay people have a duty to ourselves to demand that our rights be respected. The sickening truth is that despite supposed sensitivity training, there is still a lot of anti-gay bigotry in the New York Police Department.

I have heard of many gay-bashing crimes committed in Chelsea and throughout the city, to which the police have had responses that amount to additional victimizations of the gay people attacked.

I’ve had my own recent, negative experience with the NYPD. On July 27 in the evening I was heading home in a cab. The driver was singing at the top of his lungs. My cell rang. Wanting to take the call, I asked the driver to stop singing. He told me it was his cab, he could do as he pleased, and that I had to get out right there. I said he had to take me all the way home.

Upon arrival, I requested a receipt. The driver didn’t want to provide one. I put his identifying information in my cell, and then told him I would be filing a complaint with the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission. He locked the back doors from the front, rushed out, opened the door on my side, thrust himself next to me, and said that if I reported him, he’d kill me. I let him know that in addition to reporting him, I’d insist his license be revoked. He viciously assaulted me, clenching his fingers at my neck, punching at my head, causing a trauma to the flesh of my ear.

Freeing myself from the assault, I got out of the cab and dialed 911, running around the cab and opening its doors so the driver couldn’t leave. A police cruiser arrived immediately, with Officer Miller of the 10th Precinct. The police talked with me and the driver separately.

I might speak with an accent, but I’m an American citizen. The police, however, seemed more interested in needling me about where I was born and how long I have been here than in listening to details of my complaint against the driver.

Once they did listen, they said all I could do, since there were no witnesses, was file a harassment claim. They advised me not to, because it would be “a waste” of their and my time. They said if I was not bleeding, there was nothing to talk about. I told them to look at my traumatized ear, burning red. They took my claim, on file at Command 010, the precinct house at 230 W. 20th St. Then Officer Miller said, “You are fucking annoying me; now get the fuck out of here.”

There weren’t witnesses to this, so it’s my word against the police officer’s word. Yet I am working with the New York City Gay and Lesbian Anti-Violence Project (avp.org), a most admirable organization, and they are taking this seriously. The case will be investigated. If Officer Miller and the NYPD think I’m going to let this go, they have another thing coming. Even if the ultimate result is not satisfactory to me, this will be on the officer’s record.

NOW I’M GOING TO repeat my opening sentence. We gay people have a duty to ourselves to demand that our rights be respected. If a police officer mistreats you in any way, report that officer. Get the event known outside of the police department. The goal is to create an environment where the police know there are consequences for abusing a civilian.

I did pursue the case against the violent taxi driver. His license will be revoked; he will pay a substantial fine. The Taxi Commission did an investigation.

Turns out he had told the police that when he drove met to my front door, I said I had no money, offered sex to pay for the ride, reached my arm around through the window partition separating the front and back seats and touched his genitals. That line is so blatantly ridiculous that a police officer would only consider it true and hold it against the falsely accused if he were harboring anti-gay sentiments. Even if a person had done such a thing, it would not be appropriate for a police officer to curse them.

MANY FINE PEOPLE WORK in the NYPD. Yet homophobia remains so pervasive in society that even here in New York City, where LGBT people generally feel free to be themselves, there are officers who act with prejudice against sexual and other minorities.

It isn’t hard to find institutionalized bigotry nationally, either. The officer who snagged Sen. Larry Craig in the bathroom sex bust said to him, “I’m disappointed in you, sir. I expect this from the guy we get out of the hood. I mean, people vote for you.” I condemn that statement because it is racist. We should all realize that there are police using the same type of thinking against gay people. I do whatever is in my power to force change; so should you.

Posted by Michael at September 28, 2007 03:20 PM

Comments

Damn.

Well, I'd hope the cops would believe you just as a matter of taste.

Posted by: Jerry at September 28, 2007 09:48 PM

Good Evening Michael,

I recently expericed two accounts of homphobia within my own Union, Local 375 of DC 37, AFSCME. Two high ranking elected officals have used derogratory language that was quite disturbing. One person used the term "faggot" to describe us and another stated that he hates gay and lesbians and our lifestyle and refused to apologize during an Excutive Board meeting. My fellow union brothers ands sisters (gay and straight) are helping us fight this. We demand that these homophobes go through a serious of sensitivity trainings. We have done a letter writing campaign to union offcials and have the support of Pride of Work, a constinuency group of the AFL-CIO. One did apologize, but we still have our doubts on his sincerity. We are still waiting for the other person to apologize. Thanks for the opportunity to share my experience with you.

Posted by: JBO at September 29, 2007 01:08 AM

Michael,

I was so sorry to hear about the abuse that you

suffered with the taxi driver and the NYPD.

No human being, Gay, Straight or whatever, should

have to suffer that kind of abuse, especially not

in the United States. By the way, I have heard

you speak and I think that your accent is

beautiful. You have a great command of the

English language. Whenever I hear anyone speak

with an accent I am always immpressed because it

tells me that this is a person who can speak

at least two languages, which is something

that most Americans cannot do. Thanks for sharing

your story and for being so tenacious and

courageous. Hang in there!

Greg

Posted by: Greg at September 29, 2007 01:41 AM

Another insightful article.
Completely off subject,but..
When did the GLBT community become the LGBT community?? Might make another interesting article..

Posted by: Mark Adams at September 29, 2007 09:32 AM

Wow, what an horrible experience, but glad your OK. I agree that we as gay american/people must take a stand for what it right. We too often (gay people) let things slide by because of fear, of not wanting to create trouble, to make a seen, but I did not create the problem, find the trouble, trouble found me and I will fight with every fiber within the good fight of faith. Thank you for taking a stand and sharing your story. We have come a long way, but we still have a ways to go. Be encouraged, Be well and do well.

Posted by: Don at September 29, 2007 10:28 PM

What happened to you is, of course, unacceptable on any level. But I didn't get what does this has to do with gay rights? And what ARE the gay rights? There are HUMAN rights, and exactly they have been violated here, as far as I can see. Where did you see gay bashing in this police officer's actions? He was acting like a jerk in general; it doesn't sound to me like he would treat better any straight man, or any woman or kid, for that matter. And how did he know you were gay anyway? A psychic policeman, maybe?

What puzzles me is how come you divide HUMAN rights and GAY rights, and stressing on this division still more. As a lawyer you are perfectly aware rights should not discriminate anyone. It's all HUMAN rights, and they summon all the people. What, do gay people exclude from humanity? Do you think only gay people should be concerned from what happened to you there? I think what happened there was utterly disturbing, and should never be left without proper actions back, but I'm not gay. Should I subdue my resentment because of it?

I don't mean to be annoying, but I've always thought the worse thing to do would be to marginalize gay people. Sexual orientation is not a reason for any special rights; it's not and could never be a reason for bashing or discrimination, either. But reversed discrimination is beyond irritable; it quite much sounds like hypocrisy. I just think we are people BEFORE we're sexual persons and genitals' owners. Nor the former, neither the latter could or should define our rights. We are all people - we're all citizens, taxpayers, and voters. And the general rights are aplicable for all of us - or at least they must, that is.

So yes, your HUMAN rights were violated and these people should get all the negative publicity possible. But trying to find bashing where there's only complete lack of professionalism and severe personal incapacity seems lessening the problem to me. Or maybe I misunderstood your story and there were offending comments regarding your sexuality, as well as lack of relevant actions BECAUSE of the fact that you're gay, that you have missed to mention?

Just my 5 cents on this, said with respect to you, and your fight (I am an LGBTQ defender myself, but strongly oppose marginalization), and your work (and you don't know what a fan I am to your work, btw).

Posted by: Alex at September 30, 2007 08:46 AM

Michael,
Once again I am so proud of you for taking a stand and not sweeping this incident under the carpet. If the rights of gay men and women are to be fully acheived, then these situations must be reported to the police. If the police show little interest, or worse yet, they twist things around to make the victim look like the criminal, further action must be taken. Sensitivity training may be great, but if the results aren't there then it's been a waste of tax payer's money. The bigotry and hatred towards gays must stop.

Posted by: Donald in Toronto at September 30, 2007 11:30 AM

Arghh that sucks :( congratulations for your perseverance, there's also a lot of homophobia in the country where I live and the police men did not take me seriously the one time I was harassed ,probably because they considered that I deserved it , I did not contact any association back then because I did not even know that they existed and they made me feel so down anyway...

Thanks for going public about this ;)

Posted by: feevl at September 30, 2007 12:59 PM