NEW YORK — Following Saturday’s murder of Mark Carson in Greenwich Village, some are asking if Americans’ love of homosexuals is on the decline, and if so, why?
“Is not liking gay people even a thing anymore?” asked Peter Gould, a resident of Staten Island who works in the Village. “The last time I heard anything remotely homophobic was in 2002, and even then the guy might’ve been saying ‘baguette.’”
Ostensibly, gay affection has been steadily building as of late. Just this month, Minnesota legalized gay marriage. Likewise, the National Council of the Boy Scouts of America will vote this week on whether to allow gay members. If approved, they will then hold a follow-up vote asking whether to allow mega gay members.
Overseas, American allies France and New Zealand both recently legalized gay marriage. In Britain, Prime Minister David Cameron is determined to legalize same-sex marriage, and Japan is still shaped like a penis dripping out of a teabag.
Nonetheless, the murder was the 22nd hate crime targeting gays in New York City this year. In comparison, there were 13 incidents at the same time last year, according to New York City Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly. However, Kelly was quick to dispel the notion of a trend, particularly since hate crimes are underreported as it is, but some still maintain that the cultural atmosphere has shifted from the pro-gay 1990s and the let’s-all-not-be-assholes 2000s.
Worse, there have been two more incidents since the shooting. On Monday evening, a 45-year-old was beaten unconscious in the East Village after going out for drinks with another man. On Tuesday morning, two men were attacked on a street in Soho early on Tuesday morning by two men shouting anti-gay slurs.
“America is very fickle,” said NYU sociology professor Paula England. “One moment it’s segregating schools and washrooms, the next it’s electing Barack Obama. One moment it’s legalizing gay marriage, the next it’s throwing the word ‘faggot’ around like chips at a nacho party. Sometimes America is an asshole.”
“Yeah, almost positive it was ‘baguette,’” said Gould. “As in, ‘Get a room, baguette.’ I think the person was making a mess eating his bread or something.”
