Gay Bashing In Vancouver

Every once and a while the CBC releases a story on gay bashing in Vancouver. I am always surprised when I read something like this, as not only do I see Vancouver as extremely gay friendly, but the gay and lesbian community is in fact a vibrant and key part of this city's social make-up and flavour.

The CBC's most recent story, concerning Jordon Smith is disheartening, especially considering the violence and damage that Jordon experienced - this should not happen here, or anywhere.

But after reading this story it helped me understand, at least in part, some of the anger that was directed at me recently in a gay bar.

I will relate - after being rejected a particularly attractive girl I was interested in, turns out she has a girlfriend ( no shit, this is totally true and didn't see it coming), I looked up an old friend for drinks. He and I are both straight, but a good friend of his is gay, someone we went to school with but I had lost touch with. The three of us met for drinks at a gay bar on Davie Street. It is a new place, can't remember the name. The gay friend was not actually expecting to see me, and when he did, yelled out "Oh My God, Its Seven in a gay bar, you must be a homosexual!" Later, when his his partner arrived, he actually did the same. I was being outed as being straight.

I just brushed off their comments and went on with usual pleasantries and tried to catch up with him, enjoying being out with people I haven't seen for a while, and meeting some new ones. Nevertheless, myself and my straight friend experienced a fairly hostile atmosphere in this bar. I am fine with that, those who know me comment on my easy going nature in social situations. My friend however was not so at ease and needed to leave.

I was, nevertheless, a little surprised at our treatment, but after reading Jordon Smith's story, I can perhaps intuitively at least understand our reception at this bar.
It's not that we were a threat, but perhaps they were saying, 'look, this is how we are treated'. I'm sorry about that and wish it wasn't so.

I am saddened that we still live in an us-and-them society. I find it really unfortunate that we separate or are separated from each other based on social orientations. Personally I see no reason for this separation nor do I truly understand it, but obviously others disagree with me.