Forum targets anti-gay crime in ATL

Event slated for Wednesday evening at City Hall East
By RYAN LEE Nov 27, 2:45 PM

Following several recent episodes of alleged anti-gay violence in the city, the Atlanta Police Department and In the Life Atlanta are hosting a community forum on Nov. 29 to increase awareness about hate crimes and general safety for gay and lesbian residents.

Officer Darlene Harris, APD gay liaison, organized a Nov. 29 forum to raise safety awareness following two anti-gay attacks in Atlanta.

In the Life Atlanta representatives met with Officer Darlene Harris, the APD’s gay liaison, after two black gay men were beaten on Oct. 22 outside the GE Tower, which is located in a predominately black neighborhood just south of downtown Atlanta.

“With GE Towers essentially located within the African-American community, we felt the need to do something,” said Kenneth Jones, board president of In the Life Atlanta, a black gay group. “I think on a large scale, a lot of people do feel safe here in Atlanta, but that’s because a lot of these things aren’t reported.”

The forum will not focus exclusively on black gay men and lesbians, but instead aims to help all gay Atlantans stay safe, as well as educate them about how to recognize hate crimes and report them to Atlanta police. Jones credited Harris with taking the lead on organizing the forum, which includes a panel featuring Harris, along with representatives from the Human Rights Campaign and Lambda Legal Defense & Education Fund, two national gay rights groups.

James Carter and R’heem Turner reported that they were beaten outside the GE Tower during the early hours of Oct. 22. About five or six young men attacked Carter and Turner, and allegedly yelled out anti-gay slurs during the incident.

The Atlanta Police Department has not made any arrests in the incident, but continues to hope someone will come forward with information about the suspects, Harris said.

The GE Tower incident occurred during the same weekend as another anti-gay incident at The Heights at Cheshire Bridge apartment complex, where a gay man said he was pushed to the ground and called a faggot by a man with whom he had a parking dispute.

“Safety & Awareness in the LGBT Community”
Nov. 29, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Sherry Lyons auditorium, City Hall East
675 Ponce de Leon Ave.
www.inthelifeatl.com