A public dispute: Anniversary of Iran youth hangings

Tomorrow, July 19, 2006, several orgs. & individuals world-wide will be par- ticipating in public demos against the hanging of two teenagers in Iran a year ago for allegedly being gay.

Yet, on the eve of the demonstrations, a public fight has broken out between one-man UK activist Peter Tatchell (who called for the demos) and United States-based human rights advocacy organizations IGLHRC and Human Rights Watch (HRW).

First came an "open letter" from OutRage!'s Peter Tatchell addressed to Scott Long of Human Rights Watch and Paula Ettlebrick of the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission.

14 July 2006

Dear Scott and Paula,

While I have great respect for your human rights work and that of your respective organisations, I am totally baffled by the decision of HRW and IGLHRC to not support the 19 July protests against the Iranian regime's persecution of LGBT people.

The 19 July protests were initiated by OutRage! and IDAHO (the International Day Against Homophobia), with the support of the main Iranian LGBT group, the Persian Gay & Lesbian Organisation (PGLO).

You say you support the PGLO. But you appear to not trust their judgement that the 19 July protests deserve support.

The agreed common, universal demand of all the 19 July protests worldwide is:

Iran: Stop Killing Gays! Stop Killing Kids!

OutRage! has proposed an additional five demands for the 19 July protests, which local protests are free to adopt or not. These five demands have been endorsed by PGLO. They are:

1. End all executions in Iran, especially the execution of minors.

2. Stop the arrest, torture and imprisonment of Iranian lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people and repeal the Iranian penal code's criminalisation of same-sex relationships.

3. Halt the deportation to Iran of LGBT asylum seekers and other victims of Tehran's persecution.

4. Support Iranians struggling for democracy, social justice and human rights.

5. Oppose foreign military intervention in Iran; regime change must come from within - by and for the Iranian people themselves.

You were both advised of these demands in a news release issued by OutRage! on 26 June.

I fail to see why HRW, IGLHRC and others cannot support these clear, simple demands. They are totally consistent with your human rights commitments.

Perhaps you can explain?

Which of these demands do you disagree with?

Based on their sources inside Iran, PGLO and Afdhere Jama of the queer Muslim magazine Huriyah have concluded that Mahmoud Asgari and Ayaz Marhoni were gay lovers and were hanged because they were gay. On this evidence, and on the balance of probabilities, I share their conclusion.

I am not prepared to give the benefit of doubt to the murderous regime in Tehran and to its stooge newspapers like Quds - which have a proven record of lying and trumped up charges against people who are executed.

Nevertheless, when I drafted the main demand of the 19 July protests and the additional five demands, I deliberately omitted reference to Mahmoud and Ayaz to allow the creation of the broadest possible coalition to support the 19 July protests. I wanted the involvement and support of those who had doubts or uncertainties about the Mahmoud and Ayaz executions.

Despite this, you have chosen to not support the 19 July protests. That is, of course, your right. But I find it disappointing to say the least.

You say you respect, admire and support the PGLO, but you seem unwilling to accept its considered opinion that the teens were gay, that they were executed for homosexuality, and that the 19 July protests merit support.

While it is not your fault, your lack of support for the 19 July protests will doubtless be exploited by homophobes and apologists for the Iranian regime.

We already know that HRW's and IGLHRC's equivocation last year on the Asgari and Marhoni executions was ruthlessly exploited by such people to undermine solidarity with Iranian LGBTs and, in particular, to dismiss their reports of homophobic persecution as bogus and to ridicule the claims of Iranian LGBT asylum seekers.

While I am sure your public meeting will be useful, your support for the five demands and the 19 July protests would have been appreciated and valuable.

As for the allegation that some people are obsessed with only gay victims and have long ignored other equally abhorrent abuses by the Iranian dictatorship:

I deplore any such one-sidedness, but this allegation does not apply to me or OutRage!

OutRage! has been supporting the Iranian human rights struggle for 14 years and sees the LGBT rights as part of the global human rights movement. We endorse the freedom struggle of all Iranians, which is why we also campaign for the human rights of Iranian women, union activists, students and persecuted ethnic and religious minorities.

I have personally supported the Iranian democratic, socialist and human rights struggle for 35 years (first against the Shah and then against the Ayatollahs).

My motto is very simple: oppose the oppressors and support the oppressed.

That is why I am backing the 19 July protests.

Yours in solidarity! Peter Tatchell
OutRage! London

Scott Long of HRW responds:

Tue, 18 Jul 2006

Dear Peter,

Thanks for your manifesto. Having hashed through this issue with you and others in a number of venues over the past weeks, I am puzzled by your purpose in turning what until that point had been a private discussion into a public dispute. In doing so you pose many questions, but you also raise some unintended ones. One is why you feel impelled to aim your rhetoric at both Human Rights Watch and IGLHRC, not for anything misguided our organizations may have actively done, but out of apparent pique because we did not endorse, in its pristine form, an Outrage! initiative. It is difficult for me to answer, or indeed fully to understand, demands which are addressed to me in my institutional capacity but which seem, in their impetus, so personal. And I will not try. We should focus on the important things at stake. I will limit myself to rehearsing matters of fact, and then suggesting some implications for how we might think about both strategy and responsibility.

As you know quite well, Human Rights Watch is indeed co-organizing an event on July 19. We'll use the occasion to talk about strategy, because a strategic discussion is crucial right now. As you also know quite well, I've invited you to join us in a further meeting to talk intensively about how advocacy around Iran should be carried forward. Your letter leaves the impression that Outrage! is less interested in discussing strategy than in setting it unilaterally. I hope that is not the case.

Despite what you say, anyone observing what has transpired in recent weeks could see that the demonstrations you have called for do not center around your five demands. They center around the tragic images of two young men hanged in Mashhad. Those images, in flyer and website, poster and powerpoint presentation, have been captioned, branded, harnessed to service in the cause of "gay rights," magnified and manipulated to serve the reputations of the living, transmuted and exalted and refined and deformed by earnest and desperate imaginations, pressed into a politics which would have been beyond the comprehension of the dead. Even in your open letter, you move quickly to what obviously lies for you at the heart of the matter: condemning Paula Ettelbrick and myself for questioning a particular narrative around their deaths.

I do not play games with the dead.

I'll only repeat what I've said to you and others, from the very beginning, about Human Rights Watch's perspective on these executions.

- We do not know what happened: thus far, no one does. As a human rights organization whose effectiveness only extends as far as its credibility, we simply can't endorse conclusions based on speculation.

- The bulk of evidence suggests that the youth were tried on allegations of raping a 13-year-old, with the suggestion that they were tried for consensual homosexual conduct seemingly based almost entirely on mistranslations and on cursory news reporting magnified by the Western press. But the facts remain clouded in claims and counterclaims. I am still concerned that so many activists remain completely dismissive of that 13-year-old boy.

- We know their execution was wrong. The death penalty is wrong. Executing people for crimes committed as minors violates human rights. Their killing deserved the strongest condemnation. (See our letter to the head of Iran's judiciary about the case, http://hrw.org/english/docs/2005/07/27/iran11487.htm)

- There is no basis whatever for imputing a Westernized "gay" identity to these youths. We have no idea what their behavior was or how they would have identified themselves, given the complexities around identity and sexuality in Iran.

As you also know, Human Rights Watch has spent seven months researching report on human rights abuses based on sexual orientation and gender identity in Iran. We have amassed a great deal of information about the situation there. Our record of documenting and campaigning against human rights abuses in Iran extends over decades; I'm sure you'd agree it's a considerable one. And Jessica Stern and I have written over 50 affidavits for LGBT Iranian asylum-seekers in more than a dozen countries, many referred to us by the Persian Gay and Lesbian Organization, as well as providing other forms of direct aid.

I am therefore particularly disturbed when you claim that our public disagreements will damage asylum-seekers' cases and cause. Since you made those disagreements public, the charge is hypocrisy on its face. But HRW would not be supporting the dozens of asylum-seekers we have already worked to help, if we promote claims we cannot verify. The single-minded concentration of so many advocates on the uncertainties around Mashhad has actually distracted attention from what can be documented: the torture and abuse LGBT people in Iran face. It pins refugees' fates and lives on a single undetermined case, rather than on an analysis of the overall situation in Iran. An unfortunate side-effect of the media's obsession with those images has been that, in the eyes of governments, "proving" what happened in Mashhad has become the linchpin for determining states' obligations to asylum-seekers--instead of examining Iran's overall and provable record on sexual orientation as well as other issues, and instead of looking at host countries' absolute obligation not to return people to torture.

Now: as for the questions of strategy and responsibility.

I've never said people should not attend or support the July 19 demonstrations. Some of the organizers are friends I respect highly, and only a fool would fail to appreciate the energy, dedication, incredible work and good will that have
underlain all the organizing. I have only urged people to think very carefully about what the demonstrations are meant to achieve. And no one has explained that. What happens after July 19? How are these demonstrations meant to affect the Iranian government? How are they going to be seen in Iran? Are they only about publicity, consciousness-raising, the self-purifying effect of protest? (Surely you don't want these committed people's work, this dedication dissipated on that.) Do you have a plan for change, or just for catharsis?

Look at the world, not just London and New York.

Months of US pressure on Iran have only inflated the popularity of the Ahmedinejad government. Europe's and North America's claims to promote democracy face violent derision through the Middle East. We met this morning with one of the most famous Iranian human rights activists; he described how the government reviles the least exertion of civil society activists by defaming them as paid traitors, bought and bribed by Condoleeza Rice's $75 million. People afraid of a rain of missiles on their roofs readily believe the warnings. Hysteria there and hysteria here make an inflammatory combination. Images of Western protests on TV screens may only provoke rage and vindicate repression. Iranian democrats, Iranian activists, Iranian gays and lesbians want support. They deserve support. But they want thoughtful support, sometimes quiet and patient rather than loud and proud, content with the background rather than insisting on the spotlight. And they want to lead and guide the calls for change in their own country--not sign on to other people's demands.

After more than fifteen years of working with LGBT activists and movements in countries from Romania to Jamaica to Zimbabwe--in situations of severe repression, in places where governments persecute them while rights defenders ignore or despise them--it sometimes seems to me I know less than when I started.

The complexities of pursuing this kind of work across borders are so immense, the differences so enormous, the confusions so multiple, the chances of error so great and its consequences so extreme: the only lesson may be that there are no lessons. With each new project or connection, almost with every new e-mail, one embarks on the renewed challenge of conducting oneself responsibly amid the inequities of history and power, and turning good will into useful action. We have to learn, again and again, that our partners are neither infallible experts who can be used to affirm our own authenticity, nor pliant supplicants expecting the gift of our expertise. Accepting our common vulnerability to error, we can create a rough and temporary equality out of the injustices that divide us. Our colleagues will make mistakes, and so will we. But one thing is important to remember. They may have to live through the consequences of their own mistakes. But they shouldn't have to live through ours.

You say that you stand with the oppressed, and against the oppressors.

Peter, none of us stand with the oppressors.

But do you always ask the oppressed whether they want you standing there?

I would like to tell one story.

Over three years in Egypt in this decade, a massive crackdown on men suspected of homosexual conduct saw hundreds--probably thousands--of people arrested and tortured. I spent three years working on those cases. It meant months of building relationships not just with extraordinary gay people but with genuinely heroic mainstream human rights organizations in Egypt, learning about their own needs and crises, listening to their complaints about Human Rights Watch (they had plenty) and trying to see how sexual rights work could be integrated into their slow and isolated campaigning for democracy. "Building relationships" didn't entail going to their cocktail parties. It meant going to the protests they organized during the Iraq war, a hundred people ringed by three thousand armed security thugs; it meant standing in the jails after they or their friends were arrested, facing down police, trying to catch a glimpse of them or just find out where they were or whether (or how) they were being tortured. Those relationships were difficult, fraught with intense and (for me) sometimes personally agonizing conflict. When we wrote a report on the Egyptian crackdown we cleared every word and every recommendation with them--not always easily, but we did. We accepted their advice on framing the report, and produced a book which never suggested this was a "gay rights" issue--but rather a question of privacy and torture, part of the endemic crisis of torture which has afflicted Egypt for twenty-five years. We released the report in Cairo, in Arabic and English, strongly backed by five local human rights organizations, some of which would not have presumed to approach the issue three years before. We didn't use demonstrations to pressure the Egyptian government: we relied on our partners' brave advocacy, on the local press, on the embarrassment of a web-accessible Arabic report read by tens of thousands of Egyptians and revealing the police's sleaziest practices.

On the day we released the report, the arrests, the crackdown, stopped.

One Interior Ministry official said, privately, "It is the end of the gay cases in Egypt, because of the activities of certain human rights organizations."

They meant not just HRW but our allies, secured despite our differences. I'm not suggesting this offers any model for change in Iran. I'm not suggesting it's the only strategy. I'm saying that demonstrations in Milan and Manhattan are not the sole form of activism or barometer of success. I'm saying that long negotiations with our Iranian colleagues, in Iran and in the diaspora, are essential to deciding what might actually move the government in this moment of crisis and impending war, what might change law and policy and persecution. And I'm saying you can't simply assume that those colleagues are waiting for your contributions, uncritically eager for your support. It will require responsibility if we are to deserve their confidence, and it will take time and pain and patience to earn their trust.

I continue to have respect for your work and that of Outrage. We should explore our differences but we need not trumpet or exalt them. And we should continue to work together.

Scott

Scott Long
Director, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Rights Program
Human Rights Watch

In the meantime this has resulted in two separate events taking place tomorrow in New York City, on the anniversary of the hangings. The first one is associated with the OutRage! and has some of the flashier local (and international) sponsors:

A reminder: Tomorrow (Wednesday, July 19) is the International Day of Action Against Homophobic Persecution in Iran, called on the first anniversary of the public hanging of two teenagers, Mahmoud Asgari and Ayaz Marhoni, for homosexuality.

There will be vigils and demonstrations on July 19 in 25 cities around the world -- 10 in the U.S. (see DIRELAND for additional information on other demos)

This call to action has been endorsed by -- International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA); International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO); Persian Gay and Lesbian Organization (PGLO); International Lesbian & Gay Cultural Network; Nordic Homo Council (Scandanavian countries); and the following national LGBT organizations: ARCIGAY (Italy), HOSI (Austria), OutRage (U.K.), Moscow Pride and GayRussia.ru (Russia), COC (The Netherlands), Tupilak (Sweden), Solidarité Internationale LGBT (France -- plus a coalition of 15 gay organizations in Marseille), and BeLonG To Youth Project (Ireland). The July 19 Day of Action has also been endorsed by the following publications and media: MAHA magazine (Iran); Enkidu magazine (Mexico), Gay City News (New York City), Seattle Gay News, Independent Gay News (Fort Lauderdale-Broward County), Gay Egypt (website); and by many local ad hoc committees.

The New York City July 19 demonstration has been called by a committee including: Andy Humm and Ann Northrop, Gay USA cable TV news; Walter Armstrong, POZ magazine; Sandy Rapp, Lesbian feminist singer-writer;Rosario Dawson, actor-activist; Doric Wilson, Playwright; Martin Duberman, Professor Emeritus, City University of New York; Church Ladies for Choice. Allen Roskoff, president, Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club; the Stonewall Democratic Club; the Metropolitan Community Church of N.Y.; Darren Rosenblum, Associate Professor, Pace Law School; Larry Kramer, writer-activist; John Berendt, author, "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil" and "City of Falling Angels"; Lawrence D. Mass, M.D., physician, writer, activist, co-founder of Gay Men's Health Crisis; Arnie Kantrowitz, prof. emeritus, College of Staten Island, CUNY, and author, "Under the Rainbow: Growing Up Gay"; Sean Strub, founder, POZ magazine; Kenneth Sherill, Professor, Political Science, Hunter College, CUNY; Wayne Besen, Executive Director, Truth Wins Out; Rev. Pat Bumgartner, pastor, Metropolitan Community Church; Rick Shur; Andrew Berman; Frank Jump, educator, artist, activist; Vincenzo Aiosa, same- sex marriage activist; State Senator Tom Duane; Ethan Geto, Geto & DeMilly Inc.; Joe Kennedy, Gay Activists Alliance veteran; Dirk McCall, President, Stonewall Democratic Club; Mark Green, former NYC Public Advocate and candidate for Attorney General.

New York -- Location: Iranian Mission to the U.N., 622 Third Avenue (at 40th St.) Time: 5:00 P.M. Contact: Andy Humm, Andyhumm@aol.com

The 2nd event takes place an hour later and has been organized by HRW and IGLHRC:

INTERNATIONAL GAY AND LESBIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION and HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH TO HOLD JULY 19 COMMUNITY FORUM ON HUMAN RIGHTS, IRAN, AND LGBT ADVOCACY

WHAT: The International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC) and Human Rights Watch (HRW) invite all interested advocates to participate in Thinking Globally, Acting Locally: Human Rights, Iran, and LGBT Advocacy, a community dialogue about the persecution faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people in Iran and how activists in the West can responsibly engage in supporting our colleagues in Iran as well as elsewhere.

WHO: Speakers include:

. Paula Ettelbrick, Executive Director of IGLHRC
. Scott Long, Director of LGBT Rights Program, Human Rights Watch
. Parvez Sharma, Director of the new documentary "In the Name of Allah"
. Ayaz Ahmed, Al-Fatiha Foundation for LGBTIQ Muslims
. Hadi Ghaemi, Iran Researcher, Human Rights Watch
. Kouross Esmaeli, Iranian-American Filmmaker and Activist
. Moderated by Hossein Alizadeh, IGLHRC

WHY: Numerous reports and stories of persecution faced by gay men and lesbians in Iran have been circulating. In particular, the executions of two young Iranian men last year on July 19 have been reported as gay-related deaths, prompting some activists to call for demonstrations in local communities to draw attention to these issues on the year anniversary of their hangings. This call raises important questions for human rights and LGBT advocates concerned about human rights violations globally, but unsure of how best to engage and respond.

. How do we situate campaigns for LGBT rights in the context of other human rights issues such as the death penalty and women's rights?

. How do we respond in situations where facts are contested and documentation difficult?

. What are the responsibilities--and dangers--for Western campaigners wanting to think globally and act locally?

. How do we avoid reinforcing stereotypes and playing into hostilities prompted by our own government?

These are not abstract questions or ones relevant only to activists for sexual rights. While Iran will be emphasized in this discussion, the questions are relevant for all human rights advocates as we grapple with how global calls for justice can be made meaningful in the face of persecution and global hostilities.

While IGLHRC had initially offered to coordinate a public vigil to protest the use of the death penalty as a punishment for sexually-based crimes in Iran and elsewhere, conversations with colleagues have made clear that in New York City, dialogue, not demonstrations, would be the most productive way to build longer term strategies and understandings of how best to respond to human rights violations in Iran and around the world.

WHEN: Wednesday, July 19, 2006
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

WHERE: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center
208 West 13th Street between 7th & 8th Avenues
Room 101
New York, New York

Endorsers: Al-Fatiha Foundation for LGBTIQ Muslims, Amnesty International OUTfront, Assal East Coast, The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, and SoulforceNYC

The International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC) is the only human rights organization solely devoted to improving the rights of people around the world who are targeted for imprisonment, abuse or murder because of their sexuality, gender identity or HIV status. IGLHRC addresses human rights violations by partnering with and supporting activists on the ground in countries around the world, by monitoring and documenting abuses, by engaging offending governments, and by educating international human rights officials. A US-based non-profit, non-governmental organization, IGLHRC is based in New York, with offices in San Francisco and Buenos Aires. http://www.iglhrc.org

Human Rights Watch is dedicated to protecting the human rights of people around the world. We stand with victims and activists to prevent discrimination, to uphold political freedom, to protect people from inhumane conduct in wartime, and to bring offenders to justice. We investigate and expose human rights violations and hold abusers accountable. We challenge governments and those who hold power to end abusive practices and respect international human rights law. We enlist the public and international community to support the cause of human rights for all. Our Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Rights Program advocates against abuses based on sexual orientation or gender identity worldwide. http://www.hrw.org

Tomorrow we will try to be at the IGLHRC event which shows where our loyalties lie. Hope to see you there too!

Update: Adrian Alun Dennis Exley's funeral in the UK

JJ posted the following comment overnight:

Adrians funeral is being held today in London at 12.30pm
Adrian will be laid to rest
Friday 14/07/06
Church of the Holy Trinity
Clapham Common - 12:30
West Norwood Crematorium - 14:00

The Daily Item of Lynn, MA, corroborates this and says that the authorities have not released a possible cause of death.

• Previously: So Sad: Adrian Alun Exley's body unearthed in RI (June 28, 2006)

Scratch that: LifeBEAT releases new statement

Following this morning's press conference by black and Caribbean gay activists outside the corporate offices of LifeBEAT and some somewhat conciliatory comments from LIFEbeat's leadership given last night to a reporter from the AP, the AIDS-focused music industry foundation has removed their initial press statement from the front of their website and announced a "Forum for [the] Caribbean American Community."

Quoting LIFEbeat Executive Director John Cannelli from the press statement released today:

In our desire to do something positive within the Caribbean American community, we didn’t realize the depth of the hurt in the GLBT community around the lyrics of these artists. Once we saw how deep and real it is, it became very clear that canceling the concert was the right thing to do. We want to extend a heartfelt apology to those we offended and thank the individuals who raised their voices and helped us to see a more effective way to realize our mission. We also want to clarify the concerns of violence we felt. Those concerns didn’t stem from any threats from activists or members of the Caribbean American community. They stemmed from threatening phone calls our office received from random individuals that led to concerns for the safety of our staff and others.

We’re not giving up and are continuing our commitment to this community. The issues of homophobia, sexism, racism and poverty, key factors in the rampant spread of HIV/AIDS, need to be addressed openly. In looking at the bigger picture with the lessons we’ve learned, this concert wasn’t the right forum for this important topic. Over the next few weeks, we will be reaching out to key members of the Caribbean American community and to AIDS organizations to join together in creating an appropriate forum, where our individual strengths as activists and the power of coming together under one important cause can make a real difference in this community.

We say, thanks LIFEbeat! You finally got it right!

As for that LIFEbeat Larry Levan memorial event? Groovy!

Further commentary:

• Rod2.0 here
• A timeline from Frank Leon Roberts here
• An About.com column here
• A statement from Emanuel Xavier here
• More photos of the morning's press conference and commentary from J's Theatre here
• Kenyon Farrow has a breakdown of this morning's speakers here
  
• Additional stuff from Keith Boykin here and Jasmyne Cannick here
• Bernard is promising an update later today
  

Articles

• A new AP article which includes mention of today's developments here

Photos: Press conference outside LIFEbeat's offices this morning

Some of the speakers and participants at this morning's press conference calling on LIFEbeat to own up to their mistake in hiring Beenie Man and T.O.K. for a benefit concert without taking into consideration their rabid homophobia. The concert was cancelled yesterday but, in a press statement, LIFEbeat opted not to take responsibility for their actions and blame black gay bloggers instead.

From top to bottom: Caribbean gay activist Colin Robinson; Blogger and New York State Black Gay Network Communications and Public Education Coordinator Kenyon Farrow and blogger and author Keith Boykin; Jamaican-born lesbian poet and performer StaceyAnn Chinn; Farrow and Bishop Zachary Jones of the Unity Fellowship Church.

Other speakers and participants included Tokes Osubu, Executive Director of Gay Men of African Descent; Joey B. Pressley, Executive Director of the New York State AIDS Coalition; blogger Bernard Tarver; blogger John K., blogger and photographer Donald Agarrat, blogger Andre Lancaster and Clarence Patton, Executive Director of the New York City Anti-Violence Project.

Additional photos here

In addition, the New York City Anti-Violence Project has just sent out this press release:

M E D I A R E L E A S E

For Immediate Release

Contact: Clarence Patton

July 13, 2006

Anti-Violence Project Applauds Cancellation of Concert Trading AIDS for Violence

Says Work Still to be Done "Educating" and Creating "Dialogue" with LifeBeat

New York – Clarence Patton, the New York City Gay and Lesbian Anti-Violence Project's Executive Director issued the following statement after learning that a concert with planned performances by Dancehall artists Beenie Man and TOK, who have incited violence against gays and lesbians in their lyrics, had been cancelled. The event was to benefit LifeBeat, the music industry's leading AIDS charity:

"We were greatly dismayed that LifeBeat, which has such a powerful mission, initially elected to include in its lineup artists that actively and generally without apology or a stated intent to change their messaging advocate violence against lesbians and gay men. At the Anti-Violence Project, we have long seen the way in which the AIDS pandemic has been used in the US and around the world as further justification of violence against our community.

Additionally, assertions made by at least one LifeBeat representative that 'almost everyone in that segment of the industry is homophobic, so it would be difficult to find someone who isn't,' were incorrect and ultimately insubstantial. Even if that statement were true, there remains a distinct difference between a generalized distaste for a community - homophobia in this case - and actively encouraging the violent beating and immolation of its members as Beenie Man and TOK have.

Just this week, the bodies of two murdered lesbians were found in a roadside pit in Jamaica. Here in New York City, the LGTB community spent much of June - Pride Month - mobilizing in response to a number of incidents which left victims hospitalized and neighborhoods on-edge. This is clearly not the time to turn a blind eye to rabid homophobia.

And while we're pleased that LifeBeat, following the lead of a number of other organizations and venues around the world in recent years, made the choice to re-think its decision to provide a forum for those who have actively called for violence against a population so impacted by the AIDS pandemic, it is clear that there remains a tremendous amount of work to be done between LifeBeat, and LGTB and anti-violence organizations.

We find LifeBeat's concern about possible "violence" from those unhappy with scheduled performers baffling given that the focus of the scores of calls and e-mails received by our organization in the last several days focused on opposition to and concern about the violence espoused by performers scheduled to be at LifeBeat's own event.

Nevertheless, we see this entire episode as an opportunity to do just what LifeBeat indicated in its earliest responses to the community uproar over their concert plans: educate and create dialogue. This is now the time for LifeBeat to build stronger connections with the LGTB community to ensure that the tacit or active endorsement of violence against LGTB people is not given for the sake of AIDS awareness."

Faith

Before I reconsider my foolish notion...

Update: LIFEbeat "misjudged hurt," will "reach out to groups"

Another round of negative responses to the non-apologetic cancellation of the LIFEbeat reggae concert earlier today must have done wonders to at least make their Executive Director and at least one Board Member decide to change their tune and be more apologetic.

Executive Director John Canelli does say that the group received "threatening phone calls" but also tells the AP tonight that LIFEbeat will be "reaching out to different groups to see what could be done to accomplish the concert's goal of raising awareness without the accompanying controversy."

Board Member Tim Rosta also told the AP: "I think we misjudged the depth of the hurt around some of the issues that are raised by some of the lyrics."

• Gay City News has an Andy Humm update here
• Sean Strub, publisher of POZ Magazine, has commentary here

LIFEbeat cancels reggae concert, insults black gay bloggers in the process

Back in 1998, back when e-mail messages were still read and not immediately sent to the trash can, I remember the elation following the massive show for the 5th Avenue vigil in the wake of the murder of Matthew Sheppard in Wyoming. Some credited the phenomenon to "massive forwarding" by grassroots activists and, even if I did say that e-mail was "the greatest invention since water" back then (see previous link), I'm not sure it could be replicated nowadays.

Enter bloggers.

In the course of 48 hours a grassroots campaign began by Keith Boykin through his blog to call attention to the mind-boggling decision by non-profit music industry foundation LIFEbeat - The Music Industry Fights AIDS to include virulent homophobic performers Beenie Man and T.O.K. in a concert to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS in the Caribbean, has resulted in the cancellation of said concert earlier this afternoon.

In their statement, LIFEbeat does not acknowledge just how wrong-headed they were in hiring these two particular performers for the show and instead imply that not canceling the show might have led to violence in the streets: "The possibility of violence at the concert from the firestorm incited by a select group of activists makes canceling the event the only responsible action."

Disingenuously they do not mention the letters and calls they have been getting not only from bloggers but from people from all sorts of walks who are just as mystified as those of us who might have called attention to their unfortunate choice, including a group of Caribbean community leaders who sent the following letter to LIFEbeat Executive Director John Canelli:

John Canelli
Executive Director
LIFEbeat

Mr. Canelli

LIFEbeat’s deliberate decision to have Jamaican artists Beenie Man and TOK headline your July 18 “Hearts & Voices” benefit concert has already provoked the outrage of many. As you are well aware, these are two of the most protested Caribbean artists as a result of virulently homophobic lyrics in their recent music that calls for the mutilation, murder or genocide of Gay and Lesbian people. Homophobia causes AIDS, and LIFEbeat’s decision to showcase these artists undermines Caribbean HIV prevention efforts. The offensiveness and disregard of this action towards a Caribbean community whose vulnerability and stigmatization are at the core of its risk for HIV, and the bad faith it creates for LIFEbeat and its work, undermine any possible benefit inclusion of those artists might have.

Your response to the harm your action does Caribbean GLBT communities, who are disproportionately affected by HIV, needs to go significantly beyond current calls for cancellation of these two acts. As Caribbean community leaders and activists diverse in race, gender and sexual orientation, we have come together to insist that LIFEbeat organize a new concert targeting our communities, this one with a distinctly GLBT-affirming message and artists. This would be consistent with your mission to use the power of music in the healing work of fighting HIV. We are also demanding that you apply the proceeds of such an event towards the fight against homophobia in Jamaica, by contributing them to the Jamaica Forum for Lesbians, AllSexuals & Gays (J-FLAG).

We strongly believe these are minimal measures and first steps LIFEbeat must take to undo the damage you have done to HIV prevention for one of the most vulnerable Caribbean populations. We will continue to mobilize Caribbean stakeholders around this effort and to collaborate with you in accomplishing these goals.

Other bloggers already have written about LIFEbeat's decision to cancel the concert and make some additional points. Check these entries from Keith Boykin and Bernard Tarver.

We are left wondering how this could have happened in the first place. How big is the disconnect between some of these AIDS foundations and the LGBT community, particularly those of us who are queer people of color and decide to speak up (instead of playing to the stereotype that we are all in the closet and can't speak for ourselves to challenge their actions when they are an affront to our dignity).

We are left wondering if LIFEbeat will eventually take a look at itself instead of throwing stones at others and do right by the Caribbean communities afflicted by HIV/AIDS, INCLUDING Caribbean-based LGBT individuals.

We are left wondering if radio stations, fans of Beenie Man and T.O.K., record houses and the artists themselves will ever get it: The atmosphere of homophobia that they help to create and promote is killing their own countrymen.

In the meantime, there will be a press conference tomorrow as well (click here for details).

As for those pesky bloggers? Maybe blogging IS "the greatest invention since water?"

PRESS RELEASE

Media Contact:
Jasmyne Cannick, jcannick@sbcglobal.net
Colin Robinson, 917-482-9014
Keith Boykin, keithboykin1@aol.com

Black Gay Bloggers Win Victory; LIFEbeat Cancels Anti-Gay AIDS Concert

Los Angeles/New York (July 12, 2006) –Black lesbian and gay bloggers are declaring a small victory in the fight against homophobia today.

After a 48 hour protest against LIFEbeat, the music industry’s AIDS organization, and its decision to use homophobic reggae artists Beenie Man and TOK, LIFEbeat today released a statement that it is canceling its concert. LIFEbeat cited “the possibility of violence” as the reason for canceling the concert and not the use of anti-gay reggae artists.

“While we are extremely pleased that our efforts paid off, we want to make it perfectly clear to LIFEbeat and others, that no threats of violence were ever made against LIFEbeat’s staff and board of directors, nor the concert,” commented Jasmyne Cannick, activist and blogger. “Our campaign was simply to educate LIFEbeat about the history of the performers that they choose and to make them aware of the recent murders of gay people in the Caribbean. We did this through emails, blogging, phone calls, and faxes from all over the world.”

Author Keith Boykin added, “LIFEbeat still fails to address the issue of homophobia and its connection to the spread of HIV/AIDS.” He continues, “While we support the mission of LIFEbeat to educate our youth about the dangers of HIV/AIDS, we cannot support the use of blatantly homophobic recording artists to achieve that mission.”

“LIFEbeat has basically chosen to cop-out and blame us for their ill-considered decision to use these artists in the first place,” commented D.C. blogger Terrence Heath.

The concert was scheduled to take place at New York’s Webster Hall on July 18. Activists are now calling on LIFEbeat to move on with a new concert using gay-friendly artists and to donate the proceeds to J-FLAG, The Jamaica Forum for Lesbians, All-Sexuals and Gays founded by the late Brian Williamson who was murdered for being gay in 2004.

"This would be the first time a protest of these artists raised money for us," said Karlene, co-chair of J-FLAG. “The international protests have helped build awareness and accountability back here. Artists who perform homophobic or hate songs must be sent a strong message that their acts are inhumane and will not be tolerated. But it’s even better when this can result in support for our difficult and under-financed work to counter this hatred where these musicians live.”

A complete list of the Black lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender bloggers who participated in the campaign against LIFEbeat appears below.

Bejata link
Keith Boykin link
Republic of T link
Pandagon link
Clay Cane link
Jasmyne Cannick link
Journey Into Light link
Frank Leon Roberts link
A Burst of Light link
Blabbeando link
J's Theater link
FemmeNoir link
AnziDesign link
PlanetOut's Politics and News link
GreasyGuide link
Troy Notorious link
thebrotherlove.com link
Woubi-Yossi Collective link
Just My Thoughts link
Obsidianbear link
The 7 Magazine link
The Larry Lyons Experience link
Simply Fred Smith link
Every Shut Eye Ain't Sleep link
Novaslim link
Front Porch Storytellin link
Taylor Siluwé link
Bialogue link

LIFEbeat: Reggae fag-baiters used just to "reach out"

It seems as if it was just yesterday that we were at Manhattan's Hammerstein Ballroom protesting a Hot 97 concert for featuring some rabidly anti-gay reggae singers (see right).

But it's one thing for a commercial radio station to look for the quick-buck-'fuck-morals'-kinda-shit, and QUITE another for a well-regarded AIDS foundation such as LIFEbeat to disregard fag-baiting and virulent homophobia to "reach out" to communities and draw a pretty penny for a fundraiser.

Unfortunately that is EXACTLY what is taking place as you'll see:

• Keith Boykin: "Stop LIFEbeat's anti-gay concert"
• Bejata: "A contradiction in terms"
• Republic of T: "LIFEbeat's anti-gay death concert"
• Journey Into Light: "LIFEbeat invites homophobes Beenie Man and TOK"

Let's see if ANY HIV/AIDS organization goes on record repudiating LIFEbeat's move. For now, go to the above links and respond to LIFEbeat!

From San Francisco, more sad news

I haven't been able to confirm this through media reports but El Güero over at Razing Borders, who lives in San Francisco, tells me:

Today I was walking to the gym and I saw a flyer in a store window. I remembered your post on June 8th about Luis Peña, A Colombian gay man who lived in San Francisco and was missing. Sadly, his photo and name were on the flyer, with information about a mass and memorial service here in San Francisco [on Sunday, July 9th]. The flyer didn't mention cause of death, and I haven't seen anything about it in the local gay press yet, although I'm sure it will be when the gay weeklies come out this week

So unfortunately there is no good news to report here either. The original Bay Area Reporter article on his disappearance on the night of May 30th mentioned that Peña had been "kind of depressed," according to a close friend, so it's not clear that this is a criminal case. Nevertheless, it's sad to hear the news.

Gay City News on Eddie Garzon

from the September 6th, 2001 candlelight vigil in the wake of Eddie's death

So I've been helping out some reporters to reach out to friends and family of Eddie Garzon for the various articles that have run since the announcement of the arrest of one of the alleged assailants, five years after he was murdered.

In today's edition of Gay City News, Paul Schindler reports on the arrest of John L. McGhee and reveals that Detective Daniel Corey of the 115th Precinct in Queens (of which I have been critical in the past) actually traveled to London a while back to investigate witness accounts and leads leading to McGhee.

He says that McGhee had been "a person of interest for a while" and was known to have left New York for London "within a few months" of the attack. I hope this means they have a solid case.

In the meantime, when I was asked to write a 'perspectives' piece for the issue, I hesitated. It's one thing to write about it in your own blog, it's another to write a 1,000+ essay trying to bring another perspective to Eddie's life, beyond the criminal case and the circumstances of his murder. You can judge by yourself how well I did by going here.

The 5th year anniversary since the attack and his eventual death are coming up and some of us are considering putting together a memorial mass as well as an observance vigil. He is missed.

But, at the same time, I keep wishing that other instances of violence in our communities would also get some sort of closure, including Rashawn Brazell, Rodney Velazquez, perhaps even Jamal James up in Harlem, and others.

Updates: Loose ends

Yesterday's NYS marriage decision: There is lots out there about yesterday's marriage decision so I won't say too much about it except that after the initial anger there's the sadness that one of the states that is considered among the most progressive can elicit such a regressive, backwards majority decision against gay couples.

And, because I also don't want people to forget who is doing some of the gloating today, I will point out to this article from today's The Christian Post in which the oh-so-ethical and moral Reverend Ruben Diaz, Sr. forgets, once again, that there is a separation of church and state. He also says that while "only the state legislatures are the ones that could decide if there should be homosexual marriages or not," it is obvious that he'd rather not even give the New York State legislature that chance (he also reacts to the recent settlement in the case brought against the Harvey Milk School).

The man in the blue shirt standing on the tree pot and blocking the view: In the meantime, since I'm the one always taking the photos at events, I rarely get the chance of capturing myself in the frame, which is why it's so nice that Lavi took the above picture while I stood on one of those cement tree pots that are spread throughout the city. To the man who shouted that I should keep my hands off the tree, I was actually careful and nice about the tree but also wanted to keep balance and avoid scraping my knee at the event just like I did with the same cement pot while taking these pics. To the man who asked me to step down if I wasn't gonna take pictures, I did take pictures! For others whose view might have been blocked, apologies!

Porn: Now, a couple of months ago, we made comments on some scandalous allegations involving FlavaWorks and CocoBoyz / CocoDorm, purveyors of so-called homo-thug porn. In said post, we mentioned Enrique Cruz and his La Mancha Productions and yesterday someone who signed in as 'Ken' left some choice words about Cruz (see replies). My original post was elicited by something that Bernard first wrote in April. Last week, Bernard posted an update that we'd be remiss if we didn't link to as it speaks of changes at FlavaWorks that bode well for the enterprise. On a side note, Rod2.0 also links up to former La Mancha star Tiger Tyson's - uh - blog?

Photos: New Yorkers react to Gay Marriage Ruling

Angry thousands at Sheridan Square (on Christopher Street) this evening, speakers included New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, Senator Thomas K. Duane, Congressman Anthony Weiner, State Comptroller Alan Hevesi, Assemblymember Dick Gottfried and State Attorney General candidates Sean P. Maloney (who brought along his partner and kids) and Mark Green.

Scenes from today's rally at Sheridan Square protesting this morning's New York State Court of Appeals Decision against the constitutionality of same-sex marriage rights in New York State. Full set of photos here.

Coverage from tomorrow's Gay City News:

• Andy Humm reports on today's rally.
• Editor in Chief Paul Schindler writes the editorial.
• New York Law School Professor Arthur S. Leonard (on my personal blog list on the right) analyzes the ruling.
• Associate Editor Duncan Osbourne on reaction from couples, gay advocates and political leaders.

And from tomorrow's New York Times: An editorial and coverage.

Also, a message I got tonight from Daniel and his partner Curtis on today's ruling (he's pictured above, third one from top):

Dear Friends,

As many of you may already, New York's highest court, the State Court of Appeals, rendered its decision this morning regarding our marriage case. In effect, they ruled that the denial of marriage licenses to same-sex couples was not a constitutional issue and determined that it was a matter for the legislature. The decision was 4 to 2.

Curtis and I are deeply saddened by the decision. While many are hopeful about continuing the fight in the legislature, we believe that our part in the struggle is coming to a close. Our next steps are more personal, be must now go about protecting our relationship as every other same-sex couple in New York State with a patchwork of very expensive legal contracts, wills and proxies. It also puts our desire to adopt children even further on the back burner. Now as it stands, we will have to separately adopt a child. We were hoping that if we won we would actually be able to afford adoption because married couples need only go through one adoption process.

We could go on about the matter, but it is the end of a very difficult day that we just want to be over. Thank you for your support.

Hugs,

Daniel and Curtis

A sad day indeed.

ps - Lavi has more here and pictures here as well (spot me!)
pps - Good as You has video of some of the speakers at the rally here

Breaking News: NYS does not allow gay couples to marry

The New York State Court of Appeals, the State's highest court, has just released a 4-2 decision stating that the New York State Constitution defines marriage as that between a man and a woman and does not allow same-sex couples the right to marry (look for decisions No. 86-89 here), "any change in the law should come from state Legislature," stated Judge Robert Smith writing for the majority.

There WILL be rallies tonight throughout the state. Check here for details.

Unexpectedly, NYS Court of Appeals does not issue marriage ruling today (will do before Labor Day)

So we will have to wait a few more days... or as soon as tomorrow. We'll wait and see.

July 5th: YES or NO to same-sex marriages in NYS

So it might all come down to this.

If that is the case and you are in New York State, you can certainly do this.

Crimen

Crime

The wait has worn me out
I haven't heard a thing from you
You left so much in me

On top of flames I laid down
In a slow degeneration
I knew I had lost you

What else can I do?
If I don't forget, I will die
And another crime will remain...
Another crime will be left...
Without resolution

The quick betrayal
We exited our love
Perhaps that is what I sought

My ego will explode
Right there, were you no longer are
Jealousy again

What else can I do?
If I don't forget, I will die
And another crime will remain...
Another crime will be left...
Without resolution

Woo-hoo-hoo-woo-hoo-hoo
Woo-hoo-hoo-woo-hoo-hoo
Woo-hoo-hoo-woo-hoo-hoo

I don't know
When to stay out
I don't know
If it's too late
I don't know
If I can't forget, I will die
What else can I do?!
What else can I do?
I now know what it is to lose! Aaaah!

And another crime will remain...
Another crime will be left...
Without resolution

"Crimen" from the new CD "Ahi Vamos!" by Gustavo Cerati (video here!)
Upcoming Central Park Summerstage concert: Saturday, August 5, 2006

Amazing song! Be there or be square!

Blackface at Bogota Pride + Latin American Pride 2006

Some cities throughout Latin America celebrated gay pride this weekend including Santiago, the capital of CHILE, which observed it's first ever gay pride march and rally which drew 10,000 and a smaller "kiss-a-thon" which drew 1,500, according to some estimates. It was also a celebration of sorts for Chile's leading LGBT advocacy organization, MOVILH (which has a press release and a list of additional Spanish language coverage here), which is turning 15 years old this year [NOTE: That it was their first ever pride parade came as a surprise since back in September I had reported on another public LGBT demonstration in Chile which I thought was part of their observation of LGBT pride and now is apparent that it was just a public celebration of a decision by Chile's Education Ministry to adopt sexual-orientation non-discrimination language in the standard high-school sexual education curriculum].

AFP reports that close to 1,000 congregated and marched in VENEZUELA's 6th Annual LGBT pride celebration.

This is the same number of participants in Lima's LGBT pride celebrations in PERU according to this AP article.

Buenos Aires, ARGENTINA, observed a trans-rights march which called for the elimination of "repressive legislation" (Comunidad Homosexual Argentina, the country's largest LGBT advocacy organization, which organizes a larger LGBT pride parade in the fall, was not listed as a sponsor).

SentidoG.com also reports of pride marches in PARAGUAY and URUGUAY.

In the DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, participants did not march or rally but observed an end to the week-long indoor Human Rights Forum with the launch of a national coalition of a "GTH Alliance." El Nacional says that the goal of the Alliance, which would bring together HIV-service organizations and gay organizations in the Island nation, would be to "identify the issues that link HIV/AIDS and homosexuality, to coordinate national actions by gay, bi and trans men and other men who have sex with men, and to develop resources and tools to serve populations affected by the epidemic and to promote human rights to reduce risks in these populations."

Although they also called for a separation of church and state and for efforts to make the LGBT community in the Dominican Republic more visible, the language of the resolution betrays the fact that most of the event seemed more an HIV-prevention and treatment intervention rather than an LGBT rights, mobilization or visibilization effort which explains, to some degree, why there is no mention of the gay bar raids and closings of a couple of weeks back.

Finally, Bogota also saw 10,000 people march through the streets of the capital of COLOMBIA (other Colombian cities observed smaller pride parades as well). This was the 10th annual LGBT pride march which "El Tiempo" indicated converted it into an annual tradition while stating that the massive turn out was due to the fact that there was much to celebrate, including a mostly ceremonial statement released by Bogota's Mayor, Lucho Garzon, which said that the city will officially respect the rights of the LGBT community (a Bogota locality, Chapinero, had also announced earlier that they would provide institutional support for the launch of an LGBT Center while in Medellin, the city council adopted a "Public Policy for the Prevention and Attention of the Sexual Violence" affecting the LGBT community.

At the above links you might find photos of the different events which show the usual drag-queens, rainbow flags and gathered multitudes. I was particularly struck by the three pictures above of participants at Bogota's LGBT pride march (from a photo gallery by Roger Triana at El Tiempo's link above).

I'm uncertain how and when Colombia adopted some of the blackface imagery that used to be prevalent in the United States during the last century and is mostly considered racist and defamatory nowadays in the United States (with some exceptions, which include a famous black US drag performer who has championed a certain comedian who uses blackface to make fun of blacks who is featrured in said drag performer's new CD)

Now, Colombia has not undergone a black civil rights movement process as the United States has, which is why I am often shocked by the racism I see on Colombian television, society and culture whenever I go back (considering the fact that there is a large black and mestizo community, particularly in the coasts). What makes it more insidious is that it's not self-consciously racist but simply accepted as mindless caricatures and sometimes even embraced by blacks in Colombia (something that unfortunately is not restricted to Colombia but also other Latin American countries).

LGBT organizations in Colombia have openly participated in recent demonstrations calling for a stop to racism and protections for the civil rights of black communities in Colombia (as a matter of fact, Piedad Cordoba, a leading Senator in calling for the recognition of civil union rights for gay couples in Colombia is herself black and also a leader in the country's black-rights movement).

In any case, it is painful that on a day when I should celebrate that more than ten thousand people filled the streets of Bogota calling for the recognition of LGBT rights, some saw it fit to celebrate by using some of the racist blackface costume imagery.

As for those guys who got beaten up in Astoria...

As the Gay City News cover story on the attack on Kevin Aviance put it, there were "More victims than just Kevin" the same week Aviance was beaten up.

The Queens Chronicle interviews two of the men who was attacked in Astoria that same week, who do not give their last name to the press. One says that he was not only called homophobic names but racist slurs as well.

He says that a group of men accosted him and another two friends after he hugged one of his companions. The attackers, who he describes as having a foreign accent, called more people for reinforcement, one person brought along an aluminium bat. He ended up wuth six stitches to his head.

The man placed part of the blame on the Bush administration and the atmosphere the President has created: "Preaching inequality is not acceptable in this day and age," he said.

For additional details and reward announcements for information leading to the capture of the attackers go to the article here.

Armando Garzon talks to El Diario La Prensa

In today's El Diario La Prensa, Eva Sanchis interviews Armando Garzon, Eddie Garzon's dad, who is the only family member in New York at the moment (Leonor, Eddie's mom, and other members of the family are in Colombia at the moment).

As the elation I have felt regarding the arrest of someone who might have killed Eddie five years ago has faded somewhat, the reality has dawn that a trial is coming up which might turn out to be a difficult thing for the family to go through, particularly if whatever evidence there is isn't that strong. I guess we will have to wait and see.

In the Spanish-language interview Armando tells Sanchis that he hoped that the case would not be forgotten despite the passage of time and that he was surprised that John McGhee, the man arrested in his son's murder on Thursday, was living in London and not New York. "I'm not sure how I'll react when I see him; I hope that God forgives him" he says, "his punishment is in the hands of God up in heaven and, on earth, in the hands of the authorities."

As to whether he thinks this was a hate or bias crime, he tells Sanchis that there are many pending questions which he hopes the alleged murderer can answer: "I do think that I will go to court, I want to know who he is and why he did this."

Marlene Forero, who is also interviewed, tells Sanchis that she recently observed the date of Eddie's birthdate (June 6th) and is not so sure that there will be complete closure. "There are people you can never forget."

Eva Sanchis at El Diario was nominated for a GLAAD Media Award last year for a special series on the upswing in bias attacks against gay Latinos in the city, part of which is translated here.

PREVIOUS POSTS:

• Part 1: The Attack
• Part 2: COLEGA and Eddie Garzon
• Part 3: So what is, exactly, is a 'hate crime'? (and a prayer)
• Part 4: Eddie Garzon passes on
• Part 5: The Vigil
• Part 6: A Newsday Editorial
• Part 7: A parade of angels
• Part 8: Epilogue
• Eddie Garzon: After five years, an arrest (June 29, 2006)
• New York Times: Stepping off plane, man is arrested in '01 murder (June 30, 2006)