Everyone makes mistakes. Everyone loses things.
When it happens to LGBT crime victims, it contributes to their perceived invisibilty.
That seems to be the case with two separate alleged hate crimes that occurred in Detroit during Hotter Than July weekend. Four suspects were apprehended in the shooting of a man outside of the Woodward Bar on July 28, but they were released because witnesses couldn't identify them in a lineup.
However, no one bothered to show pictures of the suspects to the victim of the crime. And it's not like he was hard to find – he was in Henry Ford Hospital, where on Aug. 4 he told BTL that he still had not heard anything new from police.
While the victim said he did have contact with the police shortly after he was shot, that's more contact than Julia Lynn Marsh has had since she was robbed and beaten, also on July 28.
Marsh, 19, is a trans woman living at Ruth's House, the Ruth Ellis Center's transitional living facility. But according to the Detroit Police Department, she doesn't exist.
Neither Marsh nor Grace McClelland, Ruth Ellis Center's executive director, have heard from the police since the assault on Marsh and the Detroit Police were unable to locate a police report on the incident as of Aug. 3.
Out of sight, out of mind, after all.
We in the LGBT community battle invisiblity each day in varying degrees. But when the law enforcement community deems us invisible in a time when we need assistance or protection, this is unacceptable.
As at least two members of the Metro Detroit LGBT community recover from horrific attacks, we as a community need to band together and demand justice. Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, who is ultimately the head of the Detroit Police Department, said during his last re-election campaign that the gay community "is a very, very important part" of plans to revitalize the city.
It's time to call him and remind him of those words.
You can reach Mayor Kilpatrick at (313) 224-3400.
Our united voices will shatter our invisibility.
Kudos
The Ruth Ellis Center received a $322,821 grant from the Arcus Foundation to hire a top-notch fund-raiser, Collette Ramsey. If she is half as good as her record, Ruth Ellis Center just might be able to expand as fast as the need for its services to homeless and at-risk LGBTQ youth.
