Date: Tue, 10 Nov 1998 07:38:38 -0800 From: Clare Howell Subject: IYF - Rally for Assaulted Drag Queen MEDIA ADVISORY - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Editor: Clare Howell, clare@gpac.org Contact: Liz Seaton, Executive Director Free State Justice Campaign (301)891-1111 RALLY HELD FOR ASSAULTED DRAG QUEEN =================================== [Baltimore, MD: 6 Nov 98] 300 PEOPLE ATTENDED a rally and candlelight vigil tonight for Leonard 'Lynn' Vines, nine days after he was assaulted and shot in an eastern Baltimore neighborhood. Vines is recovering from six gunshot wounds to his chest, shoulder, arms, and back after having been accosted on the street by a gathering of young men and women who taunted him, shouting, "We don't allow no drag queen faggots in this neighborhood." He tried to flee but was tripped and shot repeatedly. The confrontation took place just after ten p.m. as Vines was walking near his cousin's house. He said, "I heard someone say, 'Shoot the bitch,' and the next thing I knew I was shot in the chest, and I went into shock." Fortunately a man working at the fire station around the corner heard the shots and summoned an ambulance immediately. The Baltimore Sun reports that a suspect, Paul Bishop, 20, was charged in a warrant with attempted first-degree murder. Police Detective Jerry Weaver said the suspected motive was the victim's lifestyle. Commented Vines' mother, Gloria Guthrie, "After I went to the hospital and saw him with tubes in him just because he's gay, it hurt me. Regardless of what he is, I don't want nobody hurting my child just because they don't love him. Somebody loves him." ### Subscriptions. Please contact: Subscribe@Gpac.org For prior releases, check the GenderPAC website at: http://www.gpac.org (c) 1998 InYourFace GenderPAC's online news-only service for gender activism.