Second, and here’s the really telling part of the article – one of the commenters states that they saw the aftermath of the incident and that Perry appeared drunk from *across the street*. I wasn’t there, and I have no idea at all if this is the case (and don’t really care). I have, however, been on 17th Street enough times and seen enough guys completely shitfaced to know that we have a problem as a community with this issue. When someone is drunk, it is illegal to continue to serve them alcohol. I’ve been at JRs and Cobalt and D.I.K. and other places on that strip and I’ve seen the bartenders just pour “one more” for someone who had clearly had three too many already. Once, when I confronted one of the bartenders who had just done that, he said, and I quote, “what’s the problem? when they’re that drunk they tip better anyway – that guy couldn’t tell the difference between a twenty and a five!” as he pocketed his $16 tip. Many, if not most, of the bartenders at gay bars are gay. When are we going to realize we are doing a disservice to our own community when we over-serve? Between DUIs, drunken brawls, and the occasional fatality, we are only hurting ourselves. I know bars say that if they don’t keep serving, the customer will stop coming back. But here’s the truth: if someone has a specific occasion where they have reason to over-indulge (birthday, breakup, etc), chances are they will feel so awful the next morning that they’ll forget to be angry with the bar that cut them off. If they make this a habit, though, *they have a problem with alcohol*, and they need *help*, not another round. I’ve repeatedly seen straight bars around the city kick out people who were clearly done for the night. The doormen hail them a cab, put them in it, and send them home. I’ve *never* seen a gay bar do that. And I’ve seen dozens of cases where they certainly should have.

I don’t know if Mr. Perry was drunk or not. He may have been stone-cold sober for all I know or care. But if he was, he wouldn’t be the first time where a law-abiding bartender and bouncer at JRs should have known he’d had to many and sent him home, but instead did nothing about it…

We would like to make it known that violence in any form is contrary to Radical Faerie beliefs and practices. We strive to resolve conflicts through building understanding and heartfelt empathy between people. Violent acts, especially hate crimes, often stem from an illusion that another class of people are fundamentally different from the aggressor. When violence is responded to with violence it only serves to strengthen that illusion. It is our belief that by sharing ourselves, who we are and where we come from, we can reach through to the human being on the other side of the conflict.

Hate crimes are a systemic problem in the District. The lives of Principal Brian Betts, Wanda Alston, and countless transgender men and women were irreplaceable. Their loss has left a lasting impact on our community. We must strive to find solutions to these crimes that address the root of the problem, not just the individual incidents.

With love from heartspace,
The Circle Keepers of the DC Radical Faeries

I’m personally offended by the entitlement implied in calling 17th Street a “gay street”, as if this somehow means the homosexuals have the right of way, while the indigent is a mere trespasser.

As a now-and-then member of the Radical Faeries, I’m also annoyed at the unspoken correlation (intended or not) in this article, as if they are roaming gang of street-hardened queers looking to take back the streets with fist and chain. Mentioning that he is a member of the group the way this reporter does implies that the Faeries are in some way implicated in the violence, and that is simple ridiculous. The Faeries do not condone violence (unless it’s the sexy kind), and this man’s actions were taken as an individual, not as a representative of that organization.

It seems to me that this is a simple matter of two individuals too drunk and/or stupid to leave each other alone, but somehow the identity politics of being homeless or gay (or both) are getting dragged into the story to make it seem somehow more relevant and less demeaning. It’s embarrassing, and makes a mockery of all the real cases of serious social injustice to which the phrase “hate crime” truly applies.

If it were reversed you would all be having big Nelly Fits right about now.

Hate Crimes go both ways… what is the panhandler happens to be gay. His life was threatened because he is GAY – HATE CRIME…

Pretty pink gloves or not!