HALIFAX - Police in Halifax are investigating the beating death
Tuesday of a prominent activist in the city's gay community and
haven't excluded the possibility that it could have been motivated by
hate.
Investigators say Raymond Taavel, 49, was attacked when he tried to
break up a fight between two men at 2:30 a.m. in the city's downtown.
"There has been speculation online and in the community that this was
a hate crime," Const. Brian Palmeter, a spokesman for Halifax Regional
Police, said in a statement.
"While we cannot provide specific information about the case, as it is
still under investigation, police have spoken to a number of witnesses
and are considering all possibilities with respect to the motive."
Barry Boyce, a co-worker with Taavel at Shambhala Sun magazine, says
police came to his office and said Taavel had been killed outside Menz
Bar on Gottingen Street.
"Raymond was just such a lovely person," he said. "He was an activist
without anger."
Taavel was assistant circulation manager at the magazine, wrote for
Wayves Magazine and worked with gay organizations both provincially
and nationally, Boyce said.
He described Taavel as a deeply reflective Christian who lived by the
biblical saying, "Love thy neighbour."
Taavel died at the scene, police said, and a man was later found in a
nearby alley and arrested.
Police said Andre Noel Denny is to appear in Halifax provincial court
on Wednesday to face a charge of second-degree murder.
Police also confirmed Denny had failed to return to the East Coast
Forensic Unit — a local psychiatric facility — after he was granted a
one-hour pass Monday night. The police statement says he was reported
missing at 8:47 p.m., and officers were dispatched at 9:01 p.m. to
look for him but were unable to find him.
An outdoor vigil was held Tuesday evening in front of Menz Bar, which
describes itself as the "Heart of Halifax's Gay Village."
Dozens of people packed the street, stretching a large rainbow flag
from one side to the other. They lit thin tapers and sang "Amazing
Grace" before holding a moment of silence.
Halifax councillor Dawn Sloane reflected on her long friendship with
Taavel, recounting stories of their hijinks on the dance floor and how
she admired his approach to life.
"He would have a philosophy of you can do anything if you try — be
meticulous, do it right," she said through tears as a crowd filled the
street outside the bar where Taavel died.
"And he would ask questions — lots of them — because he wanted to make
sure it was done right. And that's why I think having someone like
Raymond for a friend was a blessing."
Kevin Kindred, spokesman for the Nova Scotia Rainbow Action Project,
described Taavel as a "gentle and passionate" man who once served as
the co-chairman of the Halifax Gay Pride week festival.
"He was never shy about expressing his passionate views about what
needed to be done and, particularly, anything to bring a higher
profile to the existence of our community and the struggle for
equality," said Kindred, whose advocacy group is dedicated to
promoting equality for people of all sexual orientations.
"Raymond was friends with everybody. You could ... count on seeing
Raymond at any event, fundraiser, rally, seminar, lecture."
The board of directors of Halifax Pride issued a statement, saying
Taavel's death marked the loss of a "much loved and well-respected
member of our community."
The group's chairman, Krista Snow, remembered Taavel as a
"mild-mannered, friendly guy" who was deeply involved in many facets
of the gay community.
"To say he will be missed fails to do justice to his memory," she said.
More:
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2012/04/17/raymond-taavel-murder-gay-activist_n_1432157.html?ref=mostpopular
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Together, we can change the world, one mind at a time.
Have a great day,
Tommy
--
Together, we can change the world, one mind at a time.
Have a great day,
Tommy
--
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