Pink Blood: Homophobic Violence in Canada PDF
Preview Pink Blood: Homophobic Violence in Canada
PINK BLOOD: HOMOPHOBIC VIOLENCE IN CANADA Despite Canada’s reputation as a beacon in the international struggle for gay rights, homophobia and homophobic violence remain major prob- lems across the country. Since 1990, hundreds of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered people have been assaulted or murdered in Canada, but so far the phenomenon has been largely ignored in Canadian crimi- nology texts and other scholarly works. Pink Blood is the first book to analyse homophobic violence in Canada on a national scale. Douglas Victor Janoff uses legal records, case studies, and interviews with victims, activists, and police officers from thirty cities to convey the devastating impact this violence has had on queer Canadi- ans and on the communities they inhabit. Janoff critically examines common public perceptions and police attitudes and practices, as well as hate crime legislation and policies that, despite good intentions, are often powerless to counteract this serious and complex social problem. Drawing from a wide range of scholarship in law, criminology, sociol- ogy, psychology, philosophy, and social work, Pink Blood is a ground- breaking work from a respected researcher and community activist. douglas victor janoff is a policy adviser for the Government of Canada. This page intentionally left blank DOUGLAS VICTOR JANOFF PINK BLOOD Homophobic Violence in Canada UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO PRESS Toronto Buffalo London www.utppublishing.com © University of Toronto Press Incorporated 2005 Toronto Buffalo London Printed in Canada ISBN 0-8020-8781-7 (cloth) ISBN 0-8020-8570-9 (paper) Printed on acid-free paper Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication Janoff, Douglas, 1958– Pink blood : homophobic violence in Canada / Douglas Victor Janoff. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 0-8020-8781-7 (bound). ISBN 0-8020-8570-9 (pbk.) 1. Gays – Crimes against – Canada. 2. Homophobia – Canada. I. Title. (cid:0) (cid:0) HV6250.4.H66J36 2005 362.88 086 640971 C2004-906714-1 University of Toronto Press acknowledges the financial assistance to its publishing program of the Canada Council for the Arts and the Ontario Arts Council. University of Toronto Press acknowledges the financial support for its publishing activities of the Government of Canada through the Book Publishing Industry Development Program (BPIDP). I can’t believe the things I hear Falling from the atmosphere Sexual atrocities are happening right over me And I can’t sleep. Jann Arden This page intentionally left blank Contents acknowledgments ix necrology xi Introduction 1 1 Methodology and the Media: Reading between the Lines 13 2 Theories of Homophobia: Why Do They Want to Hurt Us? 35 3 The Horror of Homophobic Violence 65 4 Law, Homophobia, and Violence: Legislating against Hate 105 5 Homo-cide: Getting Away with It? 130 6 Homophobia, Violence, and Policing in Canada 158 7 Urban Cowboys and Rural Rednecks: Community Resistance to Homophobic Violence 199 Conclusion 244 notes 255 selected bibliography 319 index 325 This page intentionally left blank Acknowledgments Since 1995, an incalculable number of people have assisted me in this project: victims, community members, activists, academics, researchers, and criminal justice officials provided me with the data that are at the heart of this book. Many friends and family members provided me with invaluable support over the years it took to research and write this book. Among the many, I would like to thank Karen Baldwin, Peter Bartlett, Ross Boutilier, Tracey Brown, Catherine Chase, Melvin Chuck, Vince Connors, Brian Coutts, Joe Crowell, Dean Cummer, Margaret Denike, Bob Fuguere, Anita Harper, Richard Hudler, Donna Huen, Martha Johnson, Randall Lampreau, Stephen Lock, John Lowman, Bruce MacDougall, Maureen Medved, Claudine Metcalfe, John Mitchell, Jane Mulkewich, Mark O’Neill, Michael Polowich, Lewis Poteet, Brian Preston, Bruce Ryder, Sandy Scott, Theressa Seto, David Sorlie, Debbie and Peter Smith, Scott Thompson, Lorna and Elmo Townsend, and Donna Wilson. I would especially like to thank Karlene Faith – activist, author, teacher, and friend.
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