Entertainment News
2006-06-13
Aviance leaves
hospital
Gay performance
artist Kevin Aviance was released from the hospital on
Monday after suffering a beating that rights advocates said
was
Gay performance
artist Kevin Aviance was released from the hospital on
Monday after suffering a beating that rights advocates said
was a reminder of the hate crimes gays still face,
even in New York City.
"Kevin is in a
lot of pain, mentally and physically. He faces a long
road to recovery," his lawyer, Jay Sanchez, said after
Aviance was wheeled out of the hospital, his jaw wired
shut and his leg in a brace. "We all know it's
happening out there all the time," Sanchez said of
violence against gays.
Aviance could not
speak for himself because of his injuries, but he
formed the words "thank you" with his lips to the media. He
wore large sunglasses and a rainbow-colored sleeve.
Four males have
been arrested on suspicion of hate-crime assault, in
which the chart-topping singer and so-called "underground
freak" performing artist was attacked upon walking
home from a bar early on Saturday morning. The
assailants have been identified as Gregory Archie, 18;
Akino George, 20; Jarell Sears, 20; and a 16-year-old. They
yelled "Kill the faggot" and other epithets during the
beating, said Len Evans, Aviance's publicist.
New York police
have reported 22 antigay bias crimes so far this year
compared with 17 for the same date a year ago.
Gay sources said
it was particularly shocking that the attack occurred in
the East Village—one of the most gay-friendly
neighborhoods in generally tolerant New York.
Aviance, with
three Billboard number 1 dance music singles to his credit
as a vocalist, was described by Evans as "Missy Elliott
meets Grace Jones." The artist also lists Boy George
and David Bowie as his influences.
Now he will have
his jaw wired shut for 2 1/2 weeks, at the height of Gay
Pride Month. He still hopes to participate in the pride
parade on June 25.
"He said it feels
like someone pulled your soul out," Evans said. "This
was his month to shine. He made people feel proud to be gay,
to walk the streets, and to feel comfortable in their
own skin. That was taken away from him."
The executive
director of the New York City Gay and Lesbian Anti-Violence
Project said gays are particularly vulnerable during Gay
Pride Month when "we are so visible as a community,
which can fuel the ire of those folks that hate us."
At roughly the
same time as Aviance was beaten, three gay men were
attacked by seven or eight men in the working-class
neighborhood of Astoria, Queens, Patton said. (Daniel
Trotta, Reuters)
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