Tag Archives: hate crime
[UPDATED] Mallory Owens Now Fears For Her Life: Lesbian Brutally Beat By Girlfriend’s Brother On Thanksgiving
UPDATE: Saturday, December 1st, 2012 @ 2:00AM – Mallory Owens has released a statement and is no longer claiming that it was NOT a hate crime. In fact, she believes the entire Hawkins family has manipulated her. Here is her statement:
I am represented by attorney Christine Hernandez. I am supported by my family, friends, several organizations including Equality Alabama and GLAAD as well as numerous other individuals who have offered a multitude of support to myself and my family including all of those that have donated to help me with my medical expenses. For all of you that have supported me, I am very grateful.
The last week has been the most traumatic several days I have ever experienced, physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Not just for me, but for my family as well. Fortunately, we are a strong family, and we are sticking together as a family. On Thanksgiving Day, I visited the Hawkins’ home, the family home of my girlfriend Ally Hawkins. As I was leaving, I was brutally attacked by Travis Hawkins Jr., Ally’s brother. I believe that he intended to kill me. I was defenseless against him. This was not the first time Travis Hawkins Jr. attacked me and sent me to the hospital.
Travis Hawkins Jr. has been charged with Assault Second Degree by the District Attorney’s office. Although, I appreciate all the efforts of the hospital and EMS staff, police, all the investigators, and District Attorney Ashley Rich, neither I nor my family agree that Assault Second Degree is the right charge. We are very hopeful and optimistic that as Ms. Rich, her office and the police continue to investigate this crime, that the charges will be upgraded to attempted Murder. I was unconscious when the beating ended. I do not know what stopped him. I do know he has threatened to kill me before, he has attacked me with a metal pipe before, and on Thanksgiving Day he launched an unprovoked attack on me that left me unconscious, hospitalized, suffering horrific head trauma, severe injuries and in need of surgery and additional treatment. Since the attack, Travis Hawkins Jr. has been seen following my family and appearing at locations where they have gathered. He has threatened to finish me off. I believe as long as he is free on bond that my life continues to be in danger. Even beyond the physical harm, I am quite traumatized. I am afraid and I feel that I have been victimized repeatedly by the Hawkins family.
The interview at the Hawkins home was not requested by me, nor was I aware that the media would be at the Hawkins home. I was brought back to the home by Ally Hawkins. I wanted to be in my own apartment. Mr. Hawkins Sr. insisted we give the interview and statements were made. I believe Mr. Hawkins Sr. is very manipulative, I believe he organized the family and orchestrated the media representation to portray himself in a better light. I do not feel safe there. I was very uneasy and nervous while I was there. I was still very disoriented, weak, and intimidated. Mr. Hawkins Sr. has also threatened me with harm based on my relationship with his daughter. Travis Hawkins Sr. threatened me with a metal pipe while I was waiting in the car on a prior occasion. Travis Hawkins Jr. used a metal pipe to assault me on a prior occasion. He and his son pose a very real threat. I will not go back there.
It will be a very long time before I feel safe again. This sort of attack whether it is proven to be a hate crime or a crime derived from one man’s hate of another human being should not happen to anyone in this country. No one should have to endure an attack the way that I did. Neither should a mother have to see her daughter in the state that my mom had to see me.
During this investigation, many statements were made to the media, some were premature and misguided. All of us involved have been at the center of a huge media storm. At this time, we want to let the investigation continue and we need to heal. Ally Hawkins has continued to release statements and make arbitrary facebook posts and she has even offered a motive for her brother’s actions. Please know that Ally Hawkins is NOT SPEAKING for me, she is NOT representing me in the media in any way. Her statements and public posts on facebook or any other form of social media are NOT representative of my opinions, beliefs or words.
I am fortunate that my family’s love for me is unconditional. I fell in love with a girl. My family loves, accepts and supports me. They have shown nothing but love and acceptance throughout my attack, my time in the hospital, and the investigation of this brutal attack, they have been there for me, loving me and supporting me. I want to thank and publicly show my appreciation for my mom, my brother and sister, my Uncle Ricky, Linda, my grandma. Besides the countless individuals who have offered their support financially and in words of kindness, I also want to thank organizations like Equality Alabama and GLAAD for offering their direct support to me and my family, as well as working to create a culture in Alabama where people aren’t attacked for being who they are and loving who they love. Thank you to all those who have prayed, supported and advocated for myself and my family. For those of you who pray, we ask you to continue to pray for us as we heal.
UPDATE: Wednesday November 28th, 2012 @ 10:30 AM – This story is very confusing. Apparently, Mallory Owens and her fiancé Ally (Alex) Hawkins, do not believe it is a hate crime. They have told news sources that they know why he did what he did, and it would come out eventually. According to Ally Hawkins, it’s too embarrassing to share, but is bound to come out at Travis Hawkins’ court hearing on December 10th, 2012. In fact, Mallory Owens is spending her time recovering at the home where she was allegedly (pretty clear she was) beaten. I will do my best to keep everyone updated as I hear more.
UPDATE: Tuesday, November 27th, 2012 – Mallory and Alex “Ally” are actually engaged. I’ve done a bit of research and they seemed to be very happy about their relationship and had no discrepancies with sharing how they felt with the world. At the bottom of this page is a very sweet photo of the two of them, along with some words they shared with one another. Please wish the best for Mallory Owens, who is still in the hospital. And who knows, maybe one day these two will actually be able to get married 
The other day, I saw a photo being shared like crazy all over FaceBook. I wanted to get more information before relaying it, but I am shocked that something like this could happen to a beautiful young lady who was trying to be optimistic about her relationship and the family on whom she was involved with.
Mallory Owens went to Thanksgiving dinner at her girlfriend, Alex Hawkins’, place in Mobile, Alabama. The brother of Alex, Travis Hawkins, did not approve of the relationship that his sister and Mallory shared, and took it upon himself to punish who he felt was responsible, Miss Owens. After dinner, he approached Mallory and began beating her with his fists. Sadly, some people assumed this may be the outcome, including the victim’s mother.
‘He tried to kill her. He’s lucky he didn’t kill her. She’s lucky to be alive. I didn’t recognize her when I got here. It’s hard to look at her like that.’ – Kristi Taylor, Owens mother.
While this crime is horrific in itself, Travis Hawkins will not be charged with a hate crime. Alabama law doesn’t include sexual orientation among bias offenses, according to the Anti-Defamation League. I was appalled to hear this. Here we are fighting for the right to marry the ones we love, and yet, Alabama and 26 other states are also without hate crime laws that protect the LGBT community.
Mallory Owens has unfortunately already had to deal with abuse at the hands of Travis Hawkins. Earlier this year, he hit Owens over the head with a pipe wrench. Although she was injured, no charges were filed, and I can only assume she was hoping that they could work through that incident and move towards acceptance. Optimism was apparently not such a good idea with this family.
‘I did not want her to go, I begged her not to go, knowing how the family felt about her. But she said, “They’re trying to be nice.”
Shortly after being charged with second-degree assault, the assailant was bonded out. Hawkins also called Owens’ sister on Friday, proving that the charges had no effect on him once so ever.
Miss Owens’ sister Avery Godwin told AL.com that Hawkins called her on Friday to say ‘that he would finish what he started last night with Mallory.’
The fact that this kid has assaulted a female twice, the second time being much more severe, and stated that he wasn’t finished means that the second-degree assault charge is absolutely absurd. How is this not attempted murder?! And how do states not have hate crime laws that include the LGBT community?! If someone is hurting you simply because they dislike something about you, that is a hate crime. Simple. A young girl was BRUTALLY beaten at her girlfriend’s home on Thanksgiving day because she was dating the guy’s sister. This kid, not man, is a complete moron with no compassion. I’m not shocked unfortunately, due to his families history.
Last year, Hawkins was hospitalized after he was allegedly shot in the chest by his father, Travis Hawkins Sr.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Gay Bashing: Gay Man Beaten, Stabbed, And Set On Fire At Party In Rural Texas
Burke Burnett, 26, and three of his gay friends decided to attend a party on Saturday night in Reno, Texas, and had no idea that it would turn into a nightmare. Instead of being welcomed like the rest of the guests, they were greeted with comments, such as, “These faggots don’t deserve to be here. Somebody needs to get them out of there.”
I’m sorry but what was so great about the men who were making these accusations of being deserving or not? And what did they have to offer that they deserved to be there? Oh that’s right, because they like vagina. Wouldn’t you think that the more men there that aren’t after the same thing as you would be a good thing? No, you’re too simple-minded, ignorant, and bigoted to recognize the obvious and get past your unjustified hatred of a community you know nothing about.
All the men had left the party, but Burnett didn’t hear the remarks previously said about him and his friends and decided to return. This was an awful mistake. Sadly, homosexuals have to worry about things like going to a party, which is absolutely fucking ridiculous.
It was then that one attacker punched Burnett in his left eye and another stabbed him hard in the back with a broken beer bottle.
As his assailants yelled “pussy-ass faggot,” “gay bitch,” “cocksucking punk,” and other insults, Burnett was stabbed a second time, deep in his right forearm, and thrown onto a lit barrel.
One of Burnett’s female friends was able to distract the four shit heads while he ran to the parking lot to flee the assault. A friend was kind enough to take the poor beaten down gay man to the hospital where he received 30 stitches and treatment for 3rd degree burns.
Burnett says he knows his attackers, one of them personally, and he’s certain they had intended to kill him. “I’m scared for my life. I’m scared to go home,” he told theDallas Voice. “These guys have nothing to lose.”
Reno is a small, conservative suburb of Paris, TX, with a population of only 3,086 people. Burnett’s gay friends worry that local authorities may ignore or downgrade the attack, despite Texas’ tough new hate-crime law. And, so far, the mainstream press has yet to pick up the story.
“I intend to make sure the Police Department follows through with this, and that the local press covers it,” Burnett’s friend Chivas Clem told the Voice. “When I saw him, I vomited because he looked so bad — and I cried.”
We’re counting on the authorities to pursue this case to its fullest extent and the community to stand up against such horrific attacks. We’re waiting.
This is truly pathetic. Not only did the poor guy have to get beaten, nearly to death, but now he’s afraid for his life. The police should be more involved and helpful. Beating someone, no matter who is on the receiving end, is wrong, and it’s for this reason that we employee police to protect us and the communities we live in.
Even here in West Hollywood gay men have to worry while walking the streets alone. Three in the past month of October have been beaten and gay bashed. These people deserve respect and dignity until they personally offend you in a legitimate way. Only then can you lose respect, but never will it be okay to beat someone because of your differences.
Spread the word. Fight hate. Now is the time for change, but in order for change to be made, people need to step up, do the right thing, and punish the people who are committing these heinous crimes.
Related articles
- Three West Hollywood Gay Bashings Reported In One Week – Los Angeles News – The Informer (huffingtonpost.com)
- String of Gay Bashings in West Hollywood Unrelated, Says Mayor: VIDEO (towleroad.com)
- Gay Man Stabbed, Beaten, Burned in Hate Crime in Rural Texas (towleroad.com)
- Gay Man Beaten, Stabbed, Set On Fire At Party In Rural Texas (queerty.com)
- West Hollywood Isn’t Safe From Gay Bashings. Or Is It? (queerty.com)
- Utah’s Gay Bashers Beware! The S.I.N. Patrol Is Watching You… (queerty.com)
- Gay Hotel Worker Beaten and Burned to Death. a Homophobic Attack? (socyberty.com)
- Two Men Set On Fire At British Gay Bar. Police Don’t Think It Was Hate Crime (queerty.com)
- Screaming “Faggot” While Beating Person To Death Apparently Not A Hate Crime (queerty.com)
- VIDEO: Was This Man Beaten And Set On Fire For Being Gay? (queerty.com)
Brother Tries to Drill A Hole In Brother’s Head After Argument Over a Door
What is it with people trying to kill others with power tools? This doesn’t even make sense to me, not that murder really makes sense to me to begin with; The whole process seems messy, extremely painful, time-consuming, and rather hard to deny as far as involvement is concerned.
When you have an unstable sibling that has been released from prison for a hate crime that involved physical violence, not hosting them in your home might be a good idea. If you are willing to take them in, don’t be shocked when they attempt to drill a hole into your forehead.
A 57-year-old man tried to use a cordless power drill to bore a hole in his brother’s forehead during a grisly argument – and only failed after the drill part fell out, police have said.
Kevin Guerin, who just days earlier had been held in jail on suspicion of a hate crime attack, battled with his brother on Saturday over a broken door lock, San Francisco police reported.
Guerin moved into his sibling’s home after being released from prison and is said to have inexplicably lost it on Sunday when the 61-year-old was using the drill to fix a broken door latch, Sacramento TV station KCRA reported.
Fortunately, after the elder sibling was forced onto the bed and pinned down, the drill broke as it was being pushed to his skull. Although he didn’t have a hole in his head, the younger crazy ass brother did choose to then beat him with the power drill before letting him up. After the bizarre incident, the victim was able to run to a neighbor’s house and call police, who then came and arrested the suspect for attempted homicide. Maybe this time they’ll actually keep him in jail, so his crazy hateful ass doesn’t try to sandpaper someone else’s dick off or something.
Related articles
- Splatter Some Pumpkin Guts with This Jack-O-Lantern Drill Bit [Power Tools] (gizmodo.com)
- Why would you want someone to drill a hole in your skull? [Mad Science] (io9.com)
- Sibling Rivalry of the Day (thedailywh.at)
National Night Out Mugging!
On Tuesday, August 2nd, the city of West Hollywood held it’s annual National Night Out at various locations around the city. I just so happen to live at Hancock and Santa Monica, so we attended the ‘Block Party’ located at the West Knoll traffic circle behind Trader Joes. Shortly after we left for home, carrying our delicious Kitchen 24 Hamburgers in tow, Justin Miles was attacked.
Here is more on the attempted mugging, from WeHo Confidential:
Last night about 9 pm Justin Miles was walking to his apt on West Knoll from Gym bar. He had his earbuds in while listening to his iPhone near Hancock and West Knoll. A guy who appeared to be on drugs ran at him from across the street, pointed his finger from under his shirt like he had a gun and demanded pharmaceutical drugs.
Startled & confused Justin took his earphones out and the robber demanded that Justin give him his phone. He refused and the guy started beating Justin’s face, calling him a faggot repeatedly while attempting to snatch his iPhone. Justin continued to defend his phone while the robber beat him. A neighbor noticed what was happening and intervened and the failed robber ran away. The Weho Sheriff came to scene and are investigating the crime. Justin was transported to Cedars Sinai. He is badly bruised, cut, and swollen in his face. The Sheriffs are treating this case as an attempted robbery, assault, and a hate crime.
For those of you who live in this area, this is not the only attack that has occurred. The WeHo Sherriff’s number is: (310) 855-8850, and should be used in case of an emergency because they respond much more quickly than 911.
The suspect is 6′ tall, white, 220lbs, sporting 3 days of facial hair & in his late 20′s.
Justin called the timing of the incident “sad & ironic” & also expressed sympathy for his attacker who was obviously responding to tough economic times. Oddly enough Justin said that the $30 he spent on make-up was better than the cost of replacing his iPhone.