Six months ago, 15-year-old Drew said he would have described himself as an “ordinary teenager.”
“I lived with my parents in a nice house in a good neighborhood in upstate New York,” he said. “I got good grades at school, and my life was pretty great.”
“It all changed the night I tried to tell my parents I was gay,” he said. “My mom was pretty cool with it, but my dad just freaked out and started screaming. Then he started hitting me.”
“He’d never hit me before, never,” he sobbed, “but when I told him who I was, that I was gay, he just got so mad. He said he was going to kill me and I believed him, so I ran.”
After spending a few nights sleeping at a friend’s house, Drew returned home, hoping that things might have calmed down.
“I tried to open the door, but my key didn’t work any more. So I started knocking and eventually my dad came to the door and told me that I was no longer his son and he never wanted to see me again. He said if I ever tried to get in touch with him or my mom again he’d find me and kill me,” he explained.
Terrified and devastated at losing his family, Drew fled to New York City, where he hoped people might be more accepting of his sexuality. But since arriving five months ago, Drew estimates that he has been beaten up on average once a week—just for being gay.
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ST. ALBANS –– Vermont State Police is looking for one of two St. Albans sisters who are accused of committing a hate crime against a gay St. Albans Town couple last weekend. Police have executed a search warrant for Meghan Gaboury, 18, who, with her sister, Melissa, 16, allegedly slashed the tires of their vehicles and spray-painted the word “FAGGOT” on their cars. The teens face charges of unlawful mischief,
unlawful mischief and a hate crime, which carries a penalty of up two years in prison and up to $2,000 in fines or both.
VSP Tpr. Jay Riggen wrote in a press release issued today: “The state police remind the citizens of Vermont that while all property and personal crimes are not tolerated, crimes that target the belief systems and foundations of others are considered especially abhorrent and will be considered aggravated circumstances.”
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