Rod 2.0 Exclusive: Personal Feud May Have Led to Shootings

In an exclusive to Rod 2.0, authorities investigating the New Year's Eve shooting of six black gay men in Chicago believe the gunfire may have resulted from a personal "feud or rivalry."

"Detectives are almost certain this was not a hate crime," says one city official, confirming recent developments. "Apparently, the gunshots were the result of a personal feud or rivalry involving one of the "balls." Someone didn't like someone else. To settle the score, one young man left the party and returned with one or more friends and guns."

However, members of the ballroom community dispute the claim that the shootings were related to house ball scene or a "rivalry" between "houses." "It's another example of black gay men stigmatizing our own," says Frank León Roberts, who is researching his doctoral dissertation on the ball scene. He cautions against making snap judgments and fears a backlash against the balls. "Some of the things that I'm hearing are racism, classicism, elitism and now another "ism"—anti-ballroomism."

Regardless of motive, there remains no excuse for the homophobic reactions expressed by some neighbors. In the next issue of The Advocate, we'll wrap the incident and examine the community response. Monday morning on Advocate.com, look for more details on the investigation.

See Also:

6 Gay Black Men Shot at Chicago Party (Rod 2.0) 6 Men Shot at Black Gay Party (Keith Boykin) Six Ballroom Kids Shot (Frank León Roberts) "Not a Hate Crime" I Dont Buy It. (Frank Roberts) Shooting at Chicago House a "Tragedy" (Advocate) Atlanta Gay Bash Victims Speak Out (Rod 2.0) ATL Gay Bashings (Rod 2.0) Judge Reduces Morehouse Sentence (Rod 2.0) Killer Took a Nap After Gay Bashing (Rod 2.0) Charges Upgraded in Sandy Case (Rod 2.0) Michael Sandy Taken Off Ventilator (Rod 2.0) Brooklyn Suspect Released (Rod 2.0) Four Arrested in Internet Set-Up (Rod 2.0) Brooklyn Gay Bashing Update (Rod 2.0) Gay Man Beaten in Vicious Attack? (Rod 2.0) Hate Trial Begins (Rod 2.0)

Comments

[hood2big]

I had a feeling this may have been the reason, my reasoning events in the past between houses here in DC.

[Anon]

That is really pathetic. These queens can't even carry themselves like adults. Then they make up a story about masked men and gunshots for sympathy?

[Bernie]

If this is true, we still need Black gay leaders in Chicago and elsewhere to speak out on the senselessness (stupidity?) of these actions.

Such petty feuding is indeed analogous to gang behavior and does nothing to uplift and improve the lives of those who are already the most marginalized.

When you consider that even within the gay community there are many who look upon the ball community as a silly preoccupation with meaningless activities, this sort of thing doesn't help any of us.

[carl]

That's very disturbing. Supposedly, the "houses" and "balls" were created to creatively handle disputes on dance floors and runways. But that is often not the case.

Slightly off topic, Rod, this blog is becoming more enjoyabnle by the day. Congratulations on your new association with The Advocate.

[Mel Smith]

If this story is true, they have EMBARRASSED US! It would be a good thing if it's not a hate crime. However, those no class gay folks make me look bad because I was attacking heterosexual people, who I suspected did the shootings.

[andy]

the whole ballroom thing is a big joke to me and people who participate in it are ridiculous

[ZL in Toronto]

OK, this is still an ongoing investigation so let's not jump to conclusions and turn the spotlight on the (de)merits of ballroom culture. Maybe the ballroom kids can leverage this tragedy, rally and demonstrate that they're a true community with values that run deeper than labels, fashion and looks.

So, the shooting may not have been a hate crime. The disturbing fact is: a crime has been committed and the surrounding reactions toward the crime are equally disconcerting. Issues of homophobia and violence within - and targeted at - the gay community should still remain front and center in this discussion.

[ReggieH]

This is very VERY sad! I'd heard an other possible reason for the attack from a friend in Chicago, which was bad enough, but this is just ridiculous.

Although they were 'ball kids', the police here have identified actual gay gangs who attack each other and declare territory like Crips and Bloods. Perhaps something similar is tossed into this mix as well?

[jared]

this is just a shame, and thanks rod for he update. i'm not at all familar with the whole ballroom thing, but, i was under the impression that they "fought" it out on the dance floor? if, it was a fued or soemthing silly like that, i sure hope the police get the perpetrators since violence is never the answer and over a "house?" these yong men really need a time out and think about what is really important in life if this is true.

[Frank León Roberts]

I hadnt planned on discussing my thoughts regarding the shooting of six black gay men on Chicago's southside during New Years weekend. However, after reading several "exclusive" and unfolding developments----of all which suggest an "in-house rivarly" between members of the ball community resulted in the shooting--I feel compelled to respond.

I dont buy it. And I'm disgusted by our "community's" (i.e. black gay men) lack of a critical response to what is going on here. How quickly and comfortably we rush to embrace any "theory" which suggests that black gay men (especially those in the ballroom scene) were responsible for violence against each other? I am absolutely dismayed at some of the comments i've read on this blog and others----comments which affirm my belief that the larger black gay community continues to stigmatize and disenfranchise the very communities which they purport to embrace (so of like "liberal" racist white people).

On Monday i'll have a full critical response this incident, and have decided to go on record with the press.

[ATL Kid]

Whoever is responsible, I certainly hope that they are brought to justice. If these were other black gay men, then we need to reach out and heal these young men. But nothing excuses the homophobic responses.

[nOva]

If we were quick to embrace the idea that this shooting was the result of a rivalry between houses, then we were equally quick to assume this was a hate crime. Fact is, incidents like this need to be approached from ALL angles and not just the obvious ones.

[Mel Smith]

Well, I know this statement is true about a lot of us: we're afraid to confront heterosexual people and their prejudice. But, many of us are so quick to disrespect each other. I sincerely hope that gay men were not involved in the crimes. We, as a whole, are very fearful of heterosexual people.

[Jimmy David]

Frank makes some very good points but Nova brings it all home: In the very beginning with no information we were all ready--no, strike that, we all "HOPED"--that this was the work of neighborhood thugs or homophobes. Now, the investigation is proceeding and there are new developments, as it always happens with police cases.

This was a very strange case. There was no robbery. There were no warnings. There were no threats. I've lived in the hood on and off all my life, and have never heard of such a thing.

On the other hand, we all know that black on black violence is a major problem in our communities. It is no different among black gay men and lesbians. I have been to more than my share of parties and clubs and seen black gay men and lesbians fight, knife and shoot each other. Sad.Let's hope for the best.

[Mel Smith]

You guys have to remember that black heterosexual people distinguish us from them. So, don't be so quick to defend them. After the shootings, look at how homophobic their responses were.

[carl]

Mel, I'm not afraid of a whole class of people based upon their sexuality, just like I'm not afraid of a whole class of people based upon their skin color or religion.

Unfortunately, as black people, we suffer a high degree of internalized hatred that manifests itsef as violence. Many of our black gay men and lesbians also act out. Perhaps the real story is somewhere between the two--maybe this was an internal fight and some of the neighbors were like, they were acting too wild, I knew this would happen.

Let's be honest, we know how many of these "kids" act. This was a house full of young gay boys who were loud, flamboyant and combative. I've lived in several neighborhoods on Chicago's south side, even with a lover, and never had problems. And yes, I'm not the most masculine appearing guy. But me and my lover were also quiet, good neighbors and kept to ourselves.

[Marvin-Lee]

The kids may be loud, some maybe over the top queens, but, to still not feel for them in this nonsense makes no sense. Most of them have had HARD lives, kicked out of thier homes, stealing thier outfits, hustling, etc, the ballrooms is the only thing that gives them pride, too bad, they can't control the street stuff and have to resort to guns. Not my cup of tea since there are no "houses" in my town, but, they are still black and gay and take most of the flack that the so called d/l, thugs and other closet cases don't.

[anon]

So you're rationalizing hustling, shoplifting--outfits, not food to feed someone--frequent loud parties and possible gunfights and lying to police ... if those individuals are out of the closet?

That's ridiculous. Just because they're "out and gay" does not mean they are "out and proud." Big difference.

[Marvin-Lee]

Come on now anon, of course not, no one ever rationlizes theft and other anti-social behaviour, be they gay, straight, black, white or anything else. That said, I don't have a problem with them being loud and out,they are no worse than the typical young black teen you find in any major city with the loudness and penchant to be uncouth, at least you know who they are and where they stand, which is better than the wanna be thugs and "masculine d/l" bros.

A crime has been committed, and no matter what you feel about the victims, and yes, the ones who were shot are victims, they too deserve justice, no matter how unsavory thier lifestyles might be to some.

[Greg G]

Marvin-Lee, no one is disputing that these young men are victims. But let's not rush to make them martyrs or poster children for violence against black gay men. We don't know who the victims were; some may have been "out" or "DL" or whatever, who knows. And if this new report is true, using guns to solve disputes certainly sounds like "wanna be thugs."

The bottom line is that as black people we have to do better and as black gay mne we really have to do better. Some of us are obsessed with finding victims to define our lives and justify our suffering.

[Anonymous too]

Anybody remember "A Soldier's Play" or the movie version "A Soldier's Story?" Everyone was ready to believe the KKK had killed Sgt. Waters, because as Black soldiers in the racist South, that was more plausible and acceptable. But it turned out to be an inside job, one of his own who did him in.

Nobody wanted to believe that either.

[Almousjbuiui]

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