From today's New York Times:

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By KAREEM FAHIM
Published: June 11, 2006

A Manhattan singer was taunted and beaten early yesterday by a group of young men who shouted anti-gay slurs and then broke his jaw as he walked in the East Village, the police and the singer's publicist said. During the attack, the singer said, no bystanders came to his aid.

The singer, Kevin Aviance, 38, who has recorded a number of popular dance songs, underwent surgery for a broken jaw at Beth Israel Medical Center last night, said his publicist, Len Evans, who said he talked with Mr. Aviance after the beating.

Two 20-year-old men and a 16-year-old boy were arrested in connection with the beating last night. The men, Akino George of Townsend Avenue in the Bronx and Sears Jarell of Newark, and the 16-year-old, who lives within blocks of where the police said the attack took place, were charged with first degree assault as a hate crime, the police said.

According to Mr. Aviance, Mr. Evans said, he was heading to his Chelsea home about 1 a.m. yesterday after leaving Phoenix, a bar on East 13th Street, where he had been relaxing with friends. As he walked on East 14th Street near First Avenue, Mr. Evans said, Mr. Aviance was approached by six or seven young men who shouted anti-gay slurs and threw objects at him, including a spray can that one of them had fished out of a trash bin.

One of the young men punched Mr. Aviance, and the others attacked him.

"They dragged him to the curb," said Mr. Evans, adding that Mr. Aviance said that the men threatened to kill him. "There were pedestrians everywhere. No one helped him."

The young men stole Mr. Aviance's cellphone, Mr. Evans said. After the singer passed out, some bystanders apparently came to help him, Mr. Evans said.

Mr. Aviance performs in drag but was "dressed like a boy," before the attack, according to Mr. Evans. "They kept using these words. They said, 'You're not diesel.' He didn't know what that meant."

Mr. Evans said that the singer had planned to take part in next week's annual Gay Pride parade and festivities. "He won't be able to perform now that his jaw is wired shut," Mr. Evans said.

"Din Da Da," Mr. Aviance's infectious remake of a 1980's song, reached the top of the Billboard dance chart in August 1997, and another song, "Alive," was No. 1 on the chart in 2002.

Kevin~

Just read the story on CNN.com and although I'm 1500+ miles away I have you in my thoughts and prayers. May you have a speedy recovery mentally, physically, and emotionally. Stay strong!

CG

Sending out beams of love to Kevin from ptown. Everyone here cannot believe that NYC has become so dangerous again. I blame Bush and his anti gay campaign. It fires up the ignorant youth of Amerika and causes things like this to happen. It's either time to move to places like Ptown or buy a guy to protect ourselves. Here's hoping Kevin heals quickly.

Sending Kevin best wishes for a speedy recovery. Hope NYC does a better job to protect it's citizens and that these ignorant violent youth are punished for their actions.
{I don't blame Bush for this 1}.

Via email

quote:

Hi,

I just wanted to say that I was watching the news this evening and I saw what happen to KEVIN AVIANCE. I wanted to let him know that I am praying for him to pull out of this senseless crime he fell victim to. I went to his website and I thought what a lovely person. I hope you get better mentally and physically from this...someone in brooklyn is thinking, routing and caring for you.

Get Better....mentally and physically

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Also via email

quote:

Kevin we love and pray for you.

Tasha and the SI girls.

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Kevin,

Hope your back on your stiletto feet ASAP!

much love
Rob R

Very shocked and saddened to hear of what happened to Kevin. Will pray for her speedy recovery from this senseless crime.

Kevin, you'll be missed at the parade, but I'm sure you will be there in spirit, lotsa folks will be thinking about you and wishing you well.

I'm channeling my grief into activism for you, dear. Hang in there! Much love to ya baby

I'm sure it took at least four thugs to take THAT Diva down!

For the lurkers...
This is Kevin Aviance.

I GUESS NOW SHE WILL HAVE TO KEEP HER MOUTH SHUT SINCE IT'S BROKEN!! HAHAAHHAHAHAH

Just found this site via a quick Google search after having read about the brutal attack on Mr. Aviance. (Meaning this is likely my first and last post here).

As the father of a gay teenager, I find the actions of the attackers to be reprehensible. I just want to forward my wishes for a full and speedy recovery to Mr. Aviance, and let him know that he is in my thoughts and prayers this week.

I read on MSN what happened to Kevin and was saddened for the whole community that something like this could happen.. especially with onlookers.. that is truly heartbreaking. Hoping nothing but the best for Kevin and his family and sending best wishes for a speedy recovery from Canada!

The only thing screaming in here is you BOBBY1.

(Using ALL CAPS on a message board is considered screaming FYI).

Sure hope something like this doesn't happen to you.

I say Ban the jc BOBBY1!. He doesn't deserve to use that name.

I read on CTV.CA about Kevin's attack and I can only say that the attackers are the cowards and to me Kevin is a person who has courage and strength to be and live who he wants to be. That is the most important thing Kevin is that you have that strength. I wish you a speedy recovery and hope karma takes care of the bums who attacked you and the ones who stood by and did nothing.

Kevin,
Best wishes for a speedy recovery. You are in my thoughts and prayers.

Dear Kevin:
I learned of your attack via myspace and I wanted to let you know you have my utter sympathy and good thoughts. This kind of brutality is just one of the reasons I work for gay & other groups rights. May your friends & family care for you, and your heart be healed as your body does.

--Peace, QuoterGal

"Evil is the shadow of angel. Just as there are angels of light, support, guidance, healing and defense, so we have experiences of shadow angels. And we have names for them: racism, sexism, homophobia are all demons - but they're not out there." -- Matthew Fox

My heart is broken! I read about this incident online and of course I am appauled. I am not familiar with Kevin or "the scene" however, I am touched by this story. I wish Kevin all of the best and I want you to know Kevin that these young men that did this to you do not act for the rest of us that are ignorant and/or unfamiliar with your lifestyle. Take care and God Bless!

dearest miss kevin... yes, its been a long time. i'm deeply saddened to hear of this horrible event. i abhor violence and bigotry on any level, but even more that anyone could simply pass by. that is truly criminal. if we allow our brothers and sisters to be harmed... what does this say about our society? i have the privilege of many friendships, infinite love, and countless miles, hand in hand. remember, lincoln road? ;o) sending you positive energy for a speedy recovery. shall i fluff up the pillows on the chaise, and chill the martini glasses? big big hugs and lots of love. your friend, moni
PS-hi larry, love u too, hunny!

Love to Kevin and hopes for a speedy recovery! Hate crimes are always about self-hate. There was that study that showed guys who gay-bash have homo-erotic responses. Our culture is just so weird in it's need to divide everything into categories that I think people just get terrified of their own grey, not so neatly packaged or static feelings, and then they don't know what to do with the terror, so they go out and beat someone up. So, yeah, those guys are the real cowards here, and now everyone knows it!

Another weird thing about hate crimes, is that they are more defined by the demographic of the bashers than anything else. I forget the exact deets, but I think it was "two or more white men between the ages of 16 and 25." --I guess it's like whoever can bash the hardest proves to the pack that they, for one, are not the thing they are bashing (gay or trans or non-white, or whatever)...because they secretly know that they *are* partly that thing...like we are all partly so many genders/sexualities/religions/cultures, whatever.

So sad on so many fronts...a culture that breeds fences and non-acceptance, so these poor terrified unevolved fools go around beating someone soooooo much braver and more evolved than them. --What a pitiable way to make a mark...as opposed to Kevin, who has made his by talent, bravery, being true to himself, and shining originality.

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