News Buzz: Homophobia -- From Sports Stars to Subway Workers

Out NBA veteran John Amaechi (left), and his big-mouthed detractor, Tim Hardaway (right).

It’s been an up and down day for gay issues and homphobia in the news...

While gays in Mexico and Italy have staged successful events celebrating new strides in gay rights, other places are still struggling with queer issues and discrimination in a big way.

Today the media is abuzz with the ridiculously homophobic comments made by former NBA star Tim Hardaway, who responded with fervor when asked during a radio interview in Miami about how he felt about his former NBA-colleague, John Amaechi, who recently came out of the closet. Among Hardaway’s statements were: “You know, I hate gay people, so I let it be known. I don’t like gay people and I don’t like to be around gay people. I’m homophobic. I don’t like it. It shouldn’t be in the world or in the United States.”

Okaaay... This led Amaechi himself to respond deftly: "I don't need Tim's comments to realize there's a problem," Amaechi told The Associated Press in a phone interview Thursday. "People said that I should just shut up and go away - now they have to rethink that."

So that discussion is alive and thriving. Also, there was news yesterday about three gay men being attacked by a mob of 2,000 people in Jamaica.

And, just to add to this crappy news... Even here in diverse and super-gay NYC one still finds instances of homophobia (which isn’t news to Kevin Aviance or tragically, Michael Sandy).

A couple of days back, Devon Christopher, the publisher and CEO of the African-American magazine Bleu experienced harassment first-hand as he was berated by a subway worker.

Christopher was attempting to buy a MetroCard to ride the subway at the 125th St. stop of the 4/5/6 train in Harlem. And this, by his own account, is what happened:

Most days I use the MetroCard [vending] machine, however, today the machine’s were not taking credit cards. So I had to go to the booth unfortunately. I asked the agent for a Fun Pass. He replied that he doesn’t have Fun Passes and that I needed to use the machine. I informed him that the machine wasn’t taking credit cards. His response was “That’s not my problem.” We then began the following exchange:

DC: “I’m sorry you are having a bad day. Just let me get a $4 card.”

Agent #12049: “I’m not having a bad day. I just don’t like sissies.”

DC: “Excuse me?”

Agent #12049: “You heard me faggot. Go suck a d**k or something.”

DC: “Step out of the booth. Say it to my face like a man”

The agent then turned on his mic and started saying “FAGGOT, SISSY, FAGGOT, SISSY, FAGGOT, SISSY” repeatedly. The entire station could hear the word exchange.

In a city that I live in, work in, pay taxes and spend money, it is more than insulting to be treated this way by a city worker. In the station there were police officers, but they did nothing. What am I supposed to do? In a city that boasts of diversity, why is it okay for a citizen to be treated this way?

There ya go folks. Life as a gay person today. It's not all parades and makeover shows.

Comments

[Puddin]

I'm a proud NYC Lesbian and am appalled but not surprised by the ignorance of my fellow New Yorker.

First of all the city is perfectly compliant with the gay life as long as its being sported by upper class whites who only think it's cool in their circle or if they want to make money from a big gathering like the GLADD Awards or something of that nature. The city should be held accountable for their workers actions as they represent NYC.

The fact that the police did nothing about helping a fellow city worker out, before repercussions should be handed down is understandable; (The ones trying to stay in the closet themselves because they don't want to get beat up.)Regardless of his feelings, he was at work where his job is to service the public. I'm sure the taxpayers pay enough money for idiots that they choose to hire regardless of their lack of integrity, to take the proper classes.

My apologies to Mr. Devon Christopher having to be subjected to this in my city. I love NY and everything about it(Good and Bad)but i don't feel that anyone, especially representing our fine city (working for the people) should ever be able to voice their personal opinions; to anyone. I hope Mr. Christoper doesn't make light of this, phoniness and public ignorance needs to be brought out into the open.(No pun intended)

My honest opinion is he found him attractive and the chemistry through the glass was to intense. MR. Christopher would have not even remember the asshole if he hadn't made a spectacle of himself.

[Billy]

We as gay people need to get together more,an get out an protest all this homphobia, it's not getting any better