The photo is telling: a car’s rear window showing a ragged hole surrounded by the crackle-glass effect car windows always have when shattered.
That photo is in this afternoon’s St. Albans Messenger (online content behind paywall). An “openly gay Staples employee,” Nathan Chates, found that his car had been vandalized in broad daylight in a shopping center parking lot while he was at work. The rear window sporting a rainbow emblem and a “Got Gay?” sticker had been shattered with a rock.
So, what is it with these people? Suddenly they’re feeling empowered because the national tea partiers got some seats in Congress? Nah, that can’t be it – bigots and haters at this level don’t tend to follow the ins and outs of politics that much.
They’re feeling frustrated because their ‘copilot’ was defeated by a guy who actually helped queers get the right to legally marry each other? Maybe.
They’re ticked off that they can’t get jobs (can’t pass the drug screen) and here’s this gayboy actually working? More likely.
Right here, in St. Albans Town (there was a different episode of car vandalism a year or two ago in the City). Bigotry, that starts with B, that rhymes with T that stands for Trouble.
The other major question is where were the bystanders? The parking lot is hardly ever empty of moving cars and people walking. Why has no one come forward?
Could’ve been my car with the rainbow stripe in the back window, in a lot where I park when I need office supplies and groceries (Hannaford is next door).
Tomorrow I have to be in St. Albans. I think maybe I need some ink for my printer. I think I’ll ask for him by name and let him know he has a right to be angry and he’s not alone.
A few more bigoted incidents and we can get one in every county.
It does not for one minute make this bigotry go away, but AnnArbor.com has the story on the Assistant Attorney General who had been harassing the student body president at UMich, who is openly gay.
Assistant State Attorney General Andrew Shirvell got fired from his job today.
The man showed up at Armstrong’s house at 1:30 a.m.! He tried to get Armstrong fired from his job! He tried to gay-bait Armstrong’s friends, including those who weren’t gay!
And, btw, Shirvell did at least some of it on the taxpayer’s dime.
So, class, what is it that bullies do when called out for their behavior? What? Oh, yes, right: they claim they are the victims:
After a successful appeal by Shirvell, UMich “modified” their order barring him from entering any UMich property.
Chris Armstrong and his lawyer intend to seek Shirvell’s disbarment.
Good.
NanuqFC
[W]e must stand against crimes that are meant not only to break bones, but to break spirits – not only to inflict harm, but to instill fear. ~ President Barack Obama
I went for printer ink to the Staples store where Nathan works, and he happened to be standing in front of the ink/toner display. Four earrings, friendly demeanor. I introduced myself, told him I had often wondered about whether I might actually have sometime met the owner of the car with the rainbow stickers in that parking lot, let him know he’s not alone.
Seems like a nice guy. It’s gonna cost him $100 deductible to get the window fixed. Still waiting to see whether the Hannaford security-camera footage caught anything.
NanuqFC
[N]o one in America should ever be afraid to walk down the street holding the hands of the person they love. No one in America should be forced to look over their shoulder because of who they are. ~ President Barack Obama
I frequented that Staples during the campaign. I’ll have to drop by for old times’ sake and show him we all have his back.