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After proclaiming this twisted defense, he proceeded to attack me, ripping my clothes and throwing violent punches and kicks. As I attempted to flee he grabbed me and threatened to kill me if I did not run -- forcing me to leave my keys, wallet, and state ID at the scene. I screamed for mercy but that only fueled his hatred. To him, I was the epitome of the wrongs in society. And his endeavor to vanquish me, would be his greatest feat of manhood. His convictions were clear and steadfast: I was not worthy to be alive in any public place. Although Chase Yets, was arrested by local authorities within hours and charged with aggravated battery, the entire incident left me feeling completely helpless and alone.
I was convinced that that my life was in danger. But after an intensive runaround from attorneys and the Circuit Clerk, a restraining order was clearly no longer an option. As a last resort, I went to the Sheriff's office, and asked what options were available to protect myself. Unconcerned, the deputy replied, "If he attacks you again, you can call 911." In the weeks following this incident, I continued to be a target of verbal abuse by strangers on public streets. Slurs like "Die faggot!" and "F*ckin' Freak!" were poignant reminders of the hatred still prevalent in Champaign. But I was determined not to remain a victim nor to be ashamed of who I am. Thankfully, I didn't lose hope. on January 13, 2010, Chase voluntarily plead guilty to the charges. He was convicted of a class 3 felony, under the Illinois Hate Crime statute, and sentenced to 120 days in jail. While the outcome was notably reassuring, it never instilled the sense of calm that one might expect from swift enaction of justice. There are still no compulsory programs for rehabilitation following the release of these offenders. There are still no measures in place for victims to pursue court-mandated protection from contact during the course of the investigation. These are a few of the changes to our legal system that must take place before I will ever feel confident that hate crimes have become a "priority response" for our state officials.
I always hold true to my personal convictions. That is not to suggest that I lack fear of rejection. In fact, I'll flaunt my true colors at every appropriate opportunity. My ultimate goal is not to directly subvert the system, but simply to make people "think" -- to reassess their stereotypical views, to reanalyze their closed-minded standards. And with that, I take what comes in stride.
I was also given the opportunity to share my story on stage. This was the first time I had even discussed the incident publicly, so I had to muster a great deal of courage because it was still a very sensitive topic to me, particularly being the anniversary of the attack. But I wanted other people to know that strength in self is the greatest power of change. Suffice it to say, I only have one life. And I certainly intend to enjoy it to its maximum potential even if my nonconformist nature may nonetheless offend some people's rigid cultural sensibilities. I'm an advocate for equality and proponent for change. And change can always start with any person! Making an Impact. Only through persistence can we achieve progress. Only through pride can we persevere. I congratulate my queer friends who've taken the big step toward being accepted and most importantly, being to yourself. So important is this cause to me, that I have taken numerous efforts over the years to inform and educate people about the LGBT lifestyle. Attitudes can only change if you teach tolerance and awareness.
Hate speech flooded newsgroups, forums, and blogs for months thereafter -- "What was that thing on TV?", "Trannies need to die!", and "We need to kill off these fags!" In spite of the rampant protests against LGBT individuals, I decided a tactful means to counter the controversy was in order. So I published ZachIdol.com the following week, and it instantly drew support from hundreds of likeminded individuals, many of whom were too afraid to voice their support for fear of reproach.
www.wegiveadamn.org Questions or comments? Please email me at leslie@helpstophate.com |