Appearances

The author's decision not to reveal that the two men who are attacked at the beginning of the article are heterosexual is a deliberate rhetorical choice that communicates a prevalent theme throughout the article. These men were not attacked because they were gay - rather they were assaulted because they were perceived to be gay - a fundamental difference. Simply due to the fact that these men did not conform to gender stereotypes labeled them as gay and open to the possibility of violence.

The issue of antigay violence becomes something much larger and closer to home for many people when they become aware of the fact that it is not just gays and lesbians who have to deal with homophobia. It quickly becomes apparent that one can be affected by homophobia whether they are gay, lesbian or straight. In the case of several of the people attacked in the article, simply dressing outside of their typical gender roles caused them to be preyed upon. In the case of the last two couples, it was simply a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

The fact that homophobic violence, whether verbal or physical, is not just reserved for homosexuals reveals what a deeply ingrained problem it is. The cases in this article reveal just how deeply the hatred many people feel goes. It also allows us to see that this issue is not one that only affects a small number of people - it can affect us all.