Gay-Bashing Victims’ Beautiful Statement Read at the Rally on Thursday by Caryn Kunkle
I attended the Brian Sims’ rally, held to support the victims and to call for the passage of hate crime legislation, it was held at
2 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 25 in LOVE Park. Over 300 people from all walks of life came out to support the rally. Caryn Kunkle, friend and spokesperson for the
victims spoke on their behalf. She gave me what she read at the rally, as well as the official statement from the two victims below.
My name is Caryn Kunkle: I’m going to paraphrase here. 9/11 always meant something to her, especially as a volunteer fireman in Abington, Pa. where she met Friend A who also volunteered there and is an artist like Caryn. Friend B, is a culinary artist and the two of them are adorable together. She goes on to talk about what 9/11 means to her today after her two friends were beat up by a group of young people who came to the City to have a good time, and ended up shouting gay slurs at them while they beat them up. Caryn was equally appalled that the PA Hate Crime Law doesn’t currently protect gay people. Soon after finding out she started a petition on Change.org to raise awareness of the transgression….It is a privileged to read the following statement from her two friends.
We, like everyone else in this world, would never want nor welcome being attacked for who we are. But, if we had to pick one city to be beat up for being gay, it’s Philadelphia. More importantly, if there is one city where this will never happened again, it’s Philadelphia.
To everyone who has reached out to us during this time, thank you. Thank you so much. Your care, concern, encouragement and support have not gone unnoticed. And while this has been an overwhelming and tragic experience, we’ve been touched by genuine brotherly love- the foundation of this beautiful city- expressed to us by so many.
Everyone keeps saying that they are sorry this happened to us. But the truth is, we’re sorry. We feel sorry for out attackers – people who believed it was ok, cool, maybe even funny to use two innvocent individuals as their punching bags, and not even have the decency to apologise. Words are powerful. A simple “I’m sorry,” would have went a long way for us. But at this point, the only words we’ve heard from you are “Dirty Faggot!”
You butchered my boyfriend’s beautiful face. You violated our rights, You jeopardized our healthy and safety, in a city that we love and during a time where so much progress around human rights has been made.
Despite the pain and disappointment we are doing ok. Black eyes, broken jaws and brusied bodies heal. Plus we have some very good doctors that know what it means to look good and are getting us back to that status! We are undoubtedly in good hands and are on the road to recovery.
We returned home in shock. Our door was constantly swinging, news stations camped out in front of our home while detectives and police officers became regular visitors. It has been very difficult. We are merely two hard working, successful and private young men who look forward to returning to their normal lives.
We didn’t feel the need to share our sexual orientation, because it doesn’t define us, it’s a part of us. We are two everyday guys that happened to fall in love with each other. It shouldn’t be a big deal. You can’t help who you love, so why not be proud of and delight in the love that surrounds you every day. Senator Ferlo thank you, We’re gay too…so get over it – everyone!
We are also determined to do everything in our power to make sure this doesn’t happen to anyone else again. We have chosen to keep our names and faces out of the press because this isn’t about us. It’s about everyone who came before us and everyone who is standing next to us. For the gay citizens of Philadelphia so they don’t have to fear walking the streets to get a piece of pizz. Also for all the kids who get called a fag in high school by bullies, and for all of the guys and girls who are afraid to come out and be who they are because of jerks like this. If we can teach or inspire anything please don’t be afraid to be yourself.
A personal friend of ours who is a closeted gay guy recently shared taht he has been afraid to come out because he is petrified somethign like this will happen to him. We will carry this torch for him, and everyone else in his position. No one should be ashamed of who they are. No one should be scared to love who you love. No one should live in fear. Be who you are. Love who you love, and be proud of it!
By adding sexual orientation to the Pa hate crimes bill this will add protection for the LGBT community in this wonderful city. We wated this bill passed yesterday, but we will settle for today.! We urge lawmakers to pass this bill to protect the LGBT people of this city. Everyone in Philadelphia deserves equal rights, including equal protection. It stops here. It stops today. It stops now.
Wow, I seriously have goosebumps! What a beautiful speech. I have 2 little girls, and we teach them to love and accept everyone, especially themselves. We make sure they know that no matter who they are as they grow up, or who their hearts decide to fall in love with, we are gonna love them and support them. "If we can teach or inspire anything please don't be afraid to be yourself.” I really wish that we didn't have a need for a law like this, but we do. And since we do, I guess we should look at the positive that's going to come from this tragic and disgusting incident. God Bless them both, and God Bless all those who have had some kind of hurt put on them bc they fell in love. And God Bless those who are too afraid to come out for fear of being hurt bc of it.
Your change.org petition specifically excludes gender identity. I'm sorry, I can not sign.
You Gentlemen will both be fine and your attack will Always be remembered by all of us, (And by your Attackers. I will explain what I mean by this at the end.) Intervention is on it's way because of what happened to you. You must know now, that Very Strong CHRISTIAN Prayers will be Surrounding You Both by Me! I am a Prayer Warrior!, and please don't Under estimate that, and here to remind you, unlike some people who are confused by this, God is Very Powerful and Does Not Make Mistakes. Nor does he Take lightly of someone acting as if he does, through Judgment, by violating a Life as if it is unacceptable. There is a Huge penalty a person pays in their Life when they commit a Crime like this against another Soul/life/Person whatever one wants to call it.(You both were made by God to be Exactly who you are today and LOVE does not come exactly the same for Everyone. Do not doubt anymore that your existence is Important. Now I do not Believe in Hate for Hate. That is not going to have what happened to you both be of any benefit, so your pain and suffering would not have in the long been for a purpose Good and Increased Knowledge that people are in need of today. God will Bless you Both Abundantly as his Children in the near Future. Now, please mark my words here, No crime against another Ever Goes Unpunished, and this is a Realm where No one But God settles these instant matters. Watch and see what I mean– It's Called The Universal Laws and people play down Karma but It Exists. The Spirit of God is around you Now so be at Peace. From what I know to be True now, I almost want to warn your attackers to apologize and quickly change their ways but it may not help them now, not sure, I am ot God. Peace and The Love of God is With You Now and Always, so please don't fear silly talk. Watch and See. TLK, ArchAgels