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FEATURE
Carlton who was stabbed to death on Penn
Avenue October 14, 1989; and the case of
James Dean Perry, found dead with his pants
around his ankles after being missing for more
than a month None of these cases has been
solved at press time.
Nationwide reported violent crimes against
gay men include the rape of two men - one a
PWA - in Seattle and attacks by Boston's Drug
Mugger who slipped knock-out drugs into his
victim's drinks before persuading them to take
him home.
Besides abstaining from casual pickups, a
slow pace and extreme caution are the only
advice that activists can offer to gay men who
go home with people they have just met.
"I went on what I knew," explained
Germain about the man he took home. "If he
had seemed strange or whatever when I met
him I wouldn't have talked to him. Sometimes
I still wonder if I just shouldn't have noticed
something about him. That's the self-blame part
of what I've been dealing with."
Drinking is one of the factors that makes
gay men more vulnerable to this crime sce
nario, according to Berrill. Although he was
cautious not to blame the victim, Berrill did
point out that "The more drinks someone has
had the less likely they are to make a good
judgement" about the people they take home
with them. "One of the things the victimizer
counts on is the victim not being able to make
decisions that are in their best interest."
"We have information on how to protect
ourselves from AIDS," Berrill noted. 'We need
a similar plan on how to make ourselves safe
from violence. Your chances of being victim
ized are greater when your mind is altered by
substances."
Long-tenn behavioral changes in the com
munity will have the most effect in protecting
WMH) FOB
Antonio Miguel Ruiz-Quives
(5'7'\ 140 lb., black hair)
is wanted in connection with the
murder of James Dean Perry.
If you have any information,
call Detective C. R. Price,
Atlanta Homicide Task Force at
658-6818.
individuals from crimes of this type, according
to Berrill and Woolard. Both urge people to
avoid going home with someone when you
first meet them, and advise dating several times
before making yourself vulnerable to a violent
crime by taking a criminal home.
"Often," Berrill noted, "the perpetrators
won't have the persistence to go to those
lengths (of dating), but will move on to the
next, more likely victim."
Berrill advises that men unwilling to use
the dating routine introduce the person who
they are taking home to the bartender or a
friend who might be in the club. "That way the
criminal knows they have been spotted with the
victim is less likely to commit a crime," he
said.
But most important, Bearill said, is a will
ingness to "pay attention to your instincts. If
you feel unsafe it's okay to change your mind,
... even in the midst of sex it's still your pre
rogative to say no."
Germain has spent the majority of his time
since the attack in physical therapy and trying
to monitor the criminal justice system's han
dling of the case against Richard Shannon.
Bitter after feeling ignored by what he now sees
as a homophobic system, he waits daily to hear
of any new details case from the numerous
public officials he has contacted.
"Somehow, if you're in this situation and
you survive," he said, you have to put your all
into it from the second it happens. You're the
only one that's going to help yourself. Don't
assume that the prosecutors, the sheriffs
deputies and police work for you - you're just a
bother to them. They will tell you they just
don't have time to help you."
Meanwhile, Thomas Germain wonders
what if ...? What if he hadn't approached his
attacker? What if the man comes back? What
if the justice system is unable to protect him?
A Place To Get
Away From It All
Nestled close to the Blue Ridge
Parkway in the North Carolina
Mountains there is a place called
Willow Hollow Ranch. For the past
two years it has been a space of healing,
love, and serene natural beauty for the
gay and lesbian community.
There is a special force here that
cannot be explained fully, but only
experienced. This is a place that will
harbor our future as a people in times of
economic and environmental distress.
It is safe here. It is the womb of our
mother.
The ranch is on 22 undeveloped
acres of beautiful land, with a two story
house, and a rustic bunkhouse next to a
mountain stream. It is a place for
people to come and relax in the quiet,
go camping, walk the many hiking
trails, or just sit on the porch and do
nothing!
The owners of Willow Hollow
Ranch are seeking funds to preserve this
space. They are also considering selling
if the needed funds cannot be raised.
If you are interested in making a
donation to Willow Hollow Ranch, or
want to know more information on the
possible sale of this property,
call 874-6915 after 5:00 pm.
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January 18,1990 • Southern Voice/5