New England News Briefs

Student accuses Harvard Square's Market of homophobia

A Harvard University undergraduate has accused a Market in the Square employee of homophobia following an incident that occurred early Sunday morning, April 3, at the 24-hour Cambridge shop.

The Harvard Crimson reported that Aaron C. Fallon, a member of the class of 2011, and his boyfriend, who is not a Harvard student, kissed while in the market. Fallon said that they were subsequently asked to leave; one employee allegedly told them, "We don't want that shit in here."

"We were trying to pick out something to eat, and my boyfriend kissed me," Fallon told the Crimson. "Literally right after we kissed, an employee came out from behind the sandwich counter and told us to get out."

Fallon followed the incident with an email sent over the open list of the Harvard College Queer Students and Allies. List members promptly provided an outpouring of support.

Fallon returned to Market in the Square and discussed the issue with Ahmed Eino, the store's manager.

"I go there a lot, and I was really offended by what happened," Fallon told the Crimson. "I felt personally attacked, and I went back because I wanted to say that homophobia isn't going to be tolerated."

Eino told the Crimson that the employee in question has lost his job. "I know my guys, and this guy had been working for me for a while," Eino told the college newspaper. "We [are] all human, and a human makes mistakes. But this wasn't shoplifting and the way my clerk acted was unacceptable."

Death at P-town campground

One person was found dead and one seriously injured at a Provincetown, Mass. campground on Sunday morning, April 3.

The two were found at 6 a.m at the Coastal Acres Campground, according to myFox Boston. The surviving victim was transported to Cape Cod Hospital.

Circumstances surrounding the death and injuries have not been released.

Update: A Taunton man has been arrested in conjunction with the campground death of another Taunton man. James Costello, 45, was arraigned in Orleans District Court on one count of assault and battery and another count of assault and battery with a deadly weapon, according to Cape and Islands District Attorney Michael O'Keefe. David Walton, 41, who lived in the same building as Costello, was found dead by police conducting a routine property check at the campground. Costello is being held without bail, and O'Keefe said that the matter is still under investigation.

Update: In response to the news of Walton's death, The Network/La Red released the following statement:

The Network /La Red, a survivor-led social justice organization working to end partner abuse in lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) communities, is very sad to be responding to another same-sex domestic violence homicide less than a month after our state experienced the murder of Brian Bergeron. David Walton of Taunton was found dead early Sunday morning in a Provincetown campground. James Costello is being held by authorities for assault and battery-domestic violence charges.

The Network/La Red is alarmed that this is the 2nd LGBTQ domestic violence homicide in Massachusetts to be reported within a month and the 6th reported and/or suspected in the past year. "We must stress the truly lethal impact intimate partner abuse has in all of our communities and the very real need for domestic violence advocacy," says Chai Jindasurat, Director of Organizing and Education at The Network/La Red.

Advocates say the increase in reported LGBTQ domestic violence homicides, including the murder of David Walton, does not necessarily signify that they are occurring at higher rates. Rather, it illustrates that response systems are growing more aware of the existence of domestic violence in LGBTQ communities. 25-33% of LGBTQ people experience partner abuse in their lifetime -- the same rate as women abused by men. Domestic violence in all communities is about more than just physical violence. It is a pattern of behaviors used by an abuser to control their partner.

Experts point out that it is essential to understand the history of abuse to accurately identify who was the abuser and who was the victim in order to determine if the homicide was the ultimate act of domestic violence or done in self-defense.

"We know that access to services reduces the risk of homicide," says Beth Leventhal, Executive Director at The Network/La Red. "Given the tragic circumstances of these recent murders, it is essential that we continue to try and reach survivors and let them know that we are here for support and safety. Domestic violence is a community issue."

"We are all responsible for supporting community efforts to end domestic violence," continues Jindasurat. "We are calling on community members to recognize partner abuse as a problem that must be transformed, not silenced."

If you are concerned about your relationship or the relationship of someone you know, call The Network/La Red's free and confidential hotline at 617.742.4911 (voice), 617.227.4911 (tty) or visit www.tnlr.org.