Empire star Jussie Smollett’s report that he was attacked for being black and gay resonates across communities, but hits home for some here in Ohio.

  • Smollett reported that he was attacked in Chicago Tuesday
  • The actor says two masked men assaulted him, said racial and homophobic slurs and put a noose around him
  • LGBT advocates say anti-LGBT violence is common, more so against LGBT black people and people of color

“This type of violence happens to people who live at the intersection of being black and gay in America...everyday,” says Director of Prevention for Equitas Health Dwayne Steward. “I was very stunned. It was very shocking but i was not surprised."

Smollett self reported the attack to Chicago police Tuesday - they’re still investigating, but on Wednesday evening released images of “persons of interest” who may have knowledge of the case. Smollett says two unknown suspects shouted racial and homophobic slurs at him, assaulted him and put a noose around his neck, as well as poured some type of chemical on him.

 

 

“My initial reaction was that it was hate and bias violence,” says Aaron Eckhardt, Director of BRAVO, the Buckeye Region Anti-Violence Organization, a part of Equitas Health. “You know, at BRAVO, as an anti-violence organization we’re going to believe a survivor.”

Eckhardt says these acts are more common than some think.

“I am sure people, through no fault of their own or maybe a little, woke up and thought 'we have a hate and bias problem in the United States.' Well, that problem didn’t get created a couple of days ago when this happened,” says Eckhardt, whose team collects reports of anti-LGBT violence across the state.

BRAVO tracked 69 reported anti-LGBT hate violence incidents in Ohio last year. National data for 2017 shows more than 800 hate violence incidents according to the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs, of which BRAVO is a member. But, not all hate crime survivors report what happened, and there are increasingly fewer groups collecting the data.

“It’s extremely difficult [to report],” says Eckhardt. “And, at BRAVO, we don’t necessarily encourage or discourage people from telling their story. We help people and we support the decisions that they make.”

National human rights organizations Southern Poverty Law Center, the Anti-Defamation League and the NAACP report increases in hate crimes over the past few years. A 2018 analysis from California State University, San Bernardino reports their annual count of hate crimes reached more than 1000 for the first time in 10 years. The rise has those in the community wondering how to fix it - both at a systemic level, and a personal one.

“I think it starts with education, it starts with changing hearts in minds,” says Steward, who leads teams in HIV education and prevention for Equitas, and has also does advocacy work for LGBT black people and people of color. “And, it starts with our leaders really getting on board and promoting more messages of acceptance”

Advocates say that it’s important to note the nuance of Smollett’s claim that he was attacked with slurs used against him for being black and gay - not one or the other, but both.

“Someone can be targeted for hate and bias violence because they are LGBT, or because they are a person of color, or because they are an immigrant,” says Eckhardt, “Or all three, or more.”

Steward explains that the layering of identities exacerbates fear for those who live an experience as members of multiple minority communities.

“It’s unfortunate, but that fear literally becomes the fabric of your life,” says Steward.