Slain Iowa Teen's Family Claims He Was "Not Gay" and Does NOT Want Case Probed as a Hate Crime

Sadly, there have been no arrests and no warrants have been sought after 19-year-old Marcellus Andrews was fatally beaten by a group of baseball bat-wielding thugs shouting gay slurs in Waterloo, Iowa on August 19. Detectives insist this was "not" a hate crime but the result of a "dispute."

Here's one reason: Some members of Marcellus Andrews' family now claim the teen was not gay. Family members are downplaying the homophobic slurs, disputing eyewitnesses and say they do not want this investigated as a hate crime, reports the WCF Courier.

Eight members of Marcellus Andrews' family, including his sister and mother, were among nearly 50 people who participated in a communitywide conversation at Jubilee United Methodist Church. Two aunts, an uncle and three cousins also were there. Other attendees included students, professors, civil rights activists and gay rights advocates.

The Waterloo Commission on Human Rights, in collaboration with several community organizations, hosted the event largely because of homophobic slurs allegedly used by assailants during the beating Aug. 19. Waterloo police acknowledge the remarks but said the assault was not a a hate crime, but rather was motivated by a dispute between two rival groups.

Andrews' family does not believe he was gay. His sister, Nichella Andrews, 22, supports the police in ruling out a hate crime. Witnesses' accounts of what allegedly happened have been blown out of proportion, she said. A cousin, Renicia Haywood, 18, noted that a person who displays perceived feminine actions is not necessarily gay. "They didn't come to beat him up because he was gay," Haywood said. "There's more to the story."

"Gay or not, perceived as gay still ends up being a hate crime under those conditions," said Jim Day, vice president of the Black Hawk County branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. "Perception of gay and being gay still both qualify."

The brutal beating started after several youths taunted Andrews and called him "faggot." Police believe that a "club or baseball bat" was used in the brutal beatdown. Andrews had "severe head injuries" and was airlifted to University of Iowa Hospitals. He remained on life support for two days.

Marcellus Andrews was slated to start the interior design program at Hawkeye Community College on last week.

The teen was also popular and active in the drill team and youth ministry at his family's church—Union Missionary Baptist Church in Waterloo. That's probably a good explanation of the family's reaction and public comments.

Comments

[Former COGIC]

"A cousin, Renicia Haywood, 18, noted that a person who displays perceived feminine actions is not necessarily gay. "They didn't come to beat him up because he was gay. There's more to the story."

There is more to the story. Sounds like they beat him up because he was gay but the family won't admit it.

[DEHJ]

Possibly a dumb question.. But...Would he have to indeed been gay in order for them to be charged with a hate crime?... If they in fact were making gay slurs and perceived him to be gay..I would think that would be enough for it to be a hate crime...Anyone?

[Chitown Kev]

Well, technically the family is correct.

In spite of all of the gay "dog whistles" (the slurs, studying interior design, etc.) he may have been straight.

But that doesn't matter. If Andrews was even perceived to be gay then that makes it a hate crime and it would seem to me that it wouldn't matter whether Andrews knew the perps or not.
if some is screaming "faggot" at him, then that's an anti-gay hate crime.

Better that Andrews go out like the macho man that all black men are supposed to be than to be gay or even to be perceived as being gay.

The vehemence of these family denials are sickening.

They may not have known that Andrews was gay. Hell, Marcellus might not have been able to admit it to himself.

[Honut Sinti]

Legal definition of a hate crime:

http://definitions.uslegal.com/h/hate-crime/

[elg]

This story is heartbreaking.

Marcellus, apparently, was never able to be his authentic self in life.

Marcellus was murdered, at least in part, due to his real or perceived sexual orientation. And now he is being "erased" in death by his own family.

Marcellus' sad end reminds me of the four young black people (weren't they about the same age as Marcellus?) who were brutally murdered several years ago in, I believe, New Jersey. At least 2 or 3 of those victims were known to be gay/lesbian but the family members in that case (just like this one) didn't want the murders investigated as hate crimes.

[Chitown Kev]

"Better that Andrews go out like the macho man that all black men are supposed to be than to be gay or even to be perceived as being gay."

now that I'm rereading this, I stated this poorly.

Just wanted to clarify that this seems to be the thought processes of some of Andrews' family members.

[Kevin P.]

DENIAL IS NOT A RIVER IN EGYPT! That's all I can say.