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By Brody Levesque (Washington DC) July 30 | Kieran Bohan, Secretary of The Michael Causer Foundation in Liverpool, UK, announced yesterday that on Monday 2 August, there will be a special vigil in Liverpool to remember 18 year old Michael Causer – who died two years ago from injuries sustained in a homophobic attack in suburban Merseyside.
The event begins the run-up to the city’s first official LGBT Pride. The date of Liverpool Pride was chosen to be close to Michael’s anniversary.
The vigil will also act as the formal launch of The Michael Causer Foundation which will assist vulnerable LGBT young people from the north-west by providing safe accommodation for those who are homeless or at risk.
The event takes place at Exchange Flags, behind the Town Hall, in Liverpool City Centre and starts at 7.30pm. Gerry Proctor, Chair of the Michael Causer Foundation will introduce a number of influential figures from Merseyside’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community set to speak at the vigil.
Two of Michael’s friends have been invited to speak about the impact of homophobia on the Causer family, and Thomas Downey-Parkes will speak about his experiences of homophobia, following the gang attack on his partner James Parkes in Liverpool’s gay quarter last October.
Liverpool filmmaker Sandi Hughes, Labour Councillor for Kensington and Fairfield Ward in Liverpool, Louise Baldock, Liverpool City Council member responsible for Equality, and transgender campaigner Vikki-Marie Gaynor are also confirmed to speak. The crowd will then be led in a call and response of “Enough is Enough!” demanding action on and an end to homophobia and transphobia.
Michael was also a big lover of music and the vigil will feature recorded music from Liverpool legends The Farm and Holly Johnson.
Michael Causer’s mother Marie said:
“I want the money people have donated in Michael’s memory to be used to help young people. These youngsters need somewhere to go where they feel safe and are surrounded by people who have gone through a similar experience.” Mrs Causer hopes to help young people aged 15-25. “I did not want a stone or a plaque to be put up in his memory. I wanted to do something worth doing and I am very lucky to have the support of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community behind me,” she added.
Liverpool LGBT Network chairman Tommy McIlravey said:
“Marie has become a person the LGBT community feels they can talk to and she understands and listens to their concerns. When she told me of her idea, we knew we had to make it happen because there is an urgent need in Liverpool for this kind of housing."
The vigil is a Michael Causer Foundation event and is being proudly supported by Liverpool’s LGBT Network, the Armistead Centre, Homotopia, Liverpool City Council Citysafe team and The Lesbian & Gay Foundation’s Enough is Enough! Action Against Homophobia campaign.
Michael Causer Anniversary Vigil
Exchange Flags, behind the Town Hall, Liverpool City Centre
Monday 2nd August 2010 7.30pm
For more information on the Michael Causer vigil please contact Kieran Bohan, Secretary of The Michael Causer Foundation: secretary@michaelcauserfoundation.org.uk or call 07917 658 149.
Michael Causer Photo Courtesy of The Michael Causer Foundation
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timmy
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Has no life at all |
Location: UK, in Devon
Registered: February 2003
Messages: 13800
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I don't remember this incident at all. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Causer is helpful and shows the inherent brutality of the attack. In so many ways this was more horrific than a simple killing. The poor kid was tortured to death. And it happened simply(!) becaiue he was gay.
[Updated on: Mon, 02 August 2010 08:22]
Author of Queer Me! Halfway Between Flying and Crying - the true story of life for a gay boy in the Swinging Sixties in a British all male Public School
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timmy
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Has no life at all |
Location: UK, in Devon
Registered: February 2003
Messages: 13800
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So do any of you recall this two years ago? It never got mentioned here, for example.
Author of Queer Me! Halfway Between Flying and Crying - the true story of life for a gay boy in the Swinging Sixties in a British all male Public School
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timmy
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Has no life at all |
Location: UK, in Devon
Registered: February 2003
Messages: 13800
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So it seems that no-one remembers this. Or, just perhaps he wasn't good looking enough. After all the singer is a lot better looking.
Or perhaps, now, everyone is so embarrassed because this has been drawn to their attention that this passes, like so many other difficult things, without comment or notice.
Author of Queer Me! Halfway Between Flying and Crying - the true story of life for a gay boy in the Swinging Sixties in a British all male Public School
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... whereas I, on the other hand have purposefully avoided it after having been castigated ever so resoundingly by another member for not having posted a considered reply, with him believing that I had chosen instead to reply to one of your own comments in another thread that could, at best, be termed a "fluff piece".
Topics such as this most assuredly do deserve our fullest attention; but, it is not always easy to frame an off-the-cuff response suitable to the occasion, or subject matter, especially when dealing with the tragic demise of one so young.
I seldom fail to answer a query, or topic, if it is warranted that I should; often letting several days, or more, subside before doing so; which had been the case in this instance.
Had I not been so abruptly disabused of any notion with regard to my replying, you would likely have seen one from me, perhaps by now, but definitely within a day or two.
Warren C. E. Austin
The Gay Deceiver
Toronto, Canada
[Updated on: Tue, 03 August 2010 16:48]
"... comme recherché qu'un délice callipygian"
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... yes I do remember this. It made the National News Service here at the time; more I think because of the viciousness of the attack, and not because it really merited Canadian interest; much I suppose in the same manner that Matthew Shepard's death was reported here; it too being especially vicious and brutal.
Canadians as a general rule have little tolerance for "hate crime", and both of these are representative of that in the extreme; which would merit an eight-second sound-byte in our news.
Warren C. E. Austin
The Gay Deceiver
Toronto, Canada
"... comme recherché qu'un délice callipygian"
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City Of Liverpool UK To Remember Slain Gay Youth 
Re: City Of Liverpool UK To Remember Slain Gay Youth 
