‘All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing’
– Edmund Burke
I was shocked and horrified as I read this report of a transgender woman being beaten in a Baltimore McDonalds (hate crime, Bilerico Project with video) . Two teenage girls viciously assaulted the 22 year old woman, even kicking and hitting her as she lay on the ground. I’m not sure whether to be outraged or heartbroken that two girls who are just 14 could express such physical vitriol against another human being. But their attack is only part of the reason I am angry and ashamed of our society right now.
Other patrons of the restaurant stood around watching during the assault, leaving just one employee and an elderly woman to attempt to break up the fight. Disgustingly enough, instead of helping, one of the men thought it best to film the whole event, and in the video you can hear other men laughing as the transgender woman is beaten to the point of a seizure.
It’s one thing for an individual to express hate and violence – we know there are tortured souls in our midst. But to stand around and watch and laugh while someone is being beaten is as good as being an accomplice to the crime. I’m sure any one of the men at the restaurant could have easily held the two teenage girls at bay. Yet they chose not to.
This is not the worst of it!
One would think that a hate crime perpetrated by two young girls while others looked on and laughed would be shameful enough, but that is not the part of the story that I mourn most. The video taken by that cowardly man was posted online and went viral across the Internet. Shame on him for being so heartless in his calm consideration of the aftermath. Shame on us for reveling in the violence of this hate crime.
Are we becoming the mindless watchers in Running Man who delight at seeing others killed and maimed? Have our hearts grown so cold that we can’t muster empathy from the comfort of our living room sofa?
I pray that we can find within ourselves care enough to weep at suffering and – at injustice – still muster enough outrage to change the world we live in. To the woman in the story, I’m sorry that you were put through such trauma, and pray that you can find strength to forgive and move on with your life – even though they, and we, do not deserve it.
More Articles by Vanessa Law
- 7 Essential Tips to Crossdressing
- Win a Free Makeup Prize Bundle from Jecca Blac
- A Few Changes in Our Family
- I Want to Live Like That
- Hope in Despair, Light through the Darkness
Vanessa Law
Latest posts by Vanessa Law (see all)
- 7 Essential Tips to Crossdressing - January 4, 2024
- Win a Free Makeup Prize Bundle from Jecca Blac - March 11, 2022
- A Few Changes in Our Family - April 15, 2021
- I Want to Live Like That - August 29, 2020
- Hope in Despair, Light through the Darkness - March 22, 2020
I’m commenting on “a long way to go". I love your comments, Venessa about this terrible incident that took place. When I read about it on the computer, I sat here and cried. I know that we still have a VERY LONG WAY TO GO, but with sites on the computer such as CROSSDRESSER HEAVEN and all of the beautiful comments that you always make, I guess that I was hoping that possibly things were changing for the best. I do believe that things ARE changing but slower than I had hoped for. Please keep up your good work on… Read more »
Thanks Karen,
I appreciate your kind words – It’s a long, tough road, but things are
changing, as more of us stand up to be counting.
Hugs and blessings,
Vanessa
I first read a little about this a about month ago but usually I don’t have a lot of time to read and comment on everything with working two jobs and going to school, so yesterday I spent a good couple hours reading everything on this encounter. I have to say: After 24 hours, I’M STILL PISSED OFF! I try everyday to see everyone as human beings the way I want to be thought of, but wild animals like these two girls who did this make me sick! I’m finding it very difficult to see these two girls as anything… Read more »
Hi, Where was the video posted? I have another problem and it is with Facebook. If you are Transgender or a CD, and want to have a presence online in your preferred gender role, separate from the birth role, Facebook has little to no provision for this. I wonder if anyone else has had this problem, creating a facebook account in their Tans name? Is there a way around this? I attempted to find a source of contact at Facebook and only could find a minimal comments section to send for Issues. No response. Any help would be appreciated. I… Read more »
What’s even sadder is this article is dated 2011. I had saw the video and news story when it happened, horrible. Today we’re being beaten and killed, rejected so much that suicides have increased-especially among the younger population. There are tremendous advocates today helping to educate society, yet the violence seems to be increasing. I’m fortunate that I’ve never experienced this kind of hatred and I danged sure wouldn’t just stand by and watch if I ever came across this happening to some……trans or not.