For LGBT people, holding hands in public can be a safety issue
If you’re in town this Sunday, consider heading to the Hawthorne bridge at 7:30 pm. In response to the attack that took place against two men who were walking across the bridge holding hands last Sunday, community members are organizing a chain handholding walk across the bridge in order to “show solidarity with those who were attacked last sunday for holding hands while crossing the Hawthorne Bridge”.
Some backstory:
Brad Forkner, 23, and Christopher Rosevear, 25, were walking across the Hawthorne Bridge hand-in-hand after taking in an evening show at Darcelle’s Sunday, May 22, when they were assaulted by three men, Forkner says.
Bring a group of friends, come solo (I still need a handholding date!), and do come regardless of your gender or orientation. Hell, you may even find a new permanent handholding partner this way! If you can’t be there in person, email a picture of yourself holding hands with somebody and email it to edominguez at cascadeaids dot org, so it can be added to a photo album celebrating solidarity.
Also: If you have information about the crime, call Detective Kevin Warren at 503-823-3761 or email him at Kevin.Warren@Portlandoregon.gov.
