Ottawa Gay Bashing 20 Year Anniversary Memorial
This week, on August 21st, a unique ceremony will be held in Ottawa to mark the 20 year anniversary of a gay-bashing, which ultimately led to the death of Alain Brosseau.
Brosseau was attacked by four individuals on Aug. 21, 1989, when walking home from a late night shift at the Chateau Laurier Hotel. He was attacked on the assumption that he was gay, when in fact, he was not. All four individuals charged were convicted with the crime, after attacking Brosseau and dumping his body over the Alexandra Bridge.
To mark the 20 year anniversary of this tragedy, Vern White, Ottawa Police Chief and Mario Harel, his Gatineau counterpart plan to march from their respective sides of the Alexandra Bridge to meet in the middle to symbolize their equal views on ending discriminatory hate-crimes. Both officers will be joined by members of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community to publicly announce that hate-crimes will not go ‘unreported or unnoticed’.
Brosseau’s murder was the climax in a summer riddled with hate-crimes throughout the surrounding communities which lead to the creation of Canada’s first hate-crime unit in Ottawa.
CBC has been covering this story for years, with their related article found here.
In addition to this story, CBC.ca also ran a story in May, 2008 in regards to one of the men convicted of this crime. He was found dead in his prison cell at the age of 36. Due to the nature of this story, I really don’t feel much need to talk about this man’s story, as I don’t feel any light should be shed on his actions.
To read more if you chose, the write up can be found here.
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Written by: Homorazzi.com Cast Member: Dan
Homorazzi.com – a site where homos judge everything- showcases their unique stories to the OUTtv community. With their varied backgrounds, opinions, and lifestyles, Homorazzi.com brings an original, uncensored perspective of the world that surrounds them to online viewers. Co-founded by Donovan and Patrick, the two give you a glimpse into their lives and their friends one day at a time.
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