Well-known 72-year-old gay man beaten to death in Detroit

[Faygo Kid]

Andrew Anthos was one of those treasured eccentrics who give a community its heart. For 20 years, he was known by just about everyone in Lansing for his Quixotic quest to bathe the Michigan Capitol dome in red, white & blue light to honor America. He would talk to anyone who would listen about his idea and often stand on streetcorners waving to cars passing by holding an American flag and a sign that said, "Light the Dome." He was an eccentric and effeminate, but probably more asexual than homosexual. Nevertheless, he died Friday after being beaten to death with a pipe by a total stranger almost certainly because he was gay. If this wasn't a hate crime, I don't know what is. Andrew Anthos never harmed anyone in his whole life, and he brought much happiness. Thank you, Karl Rove and your minions, for using anti-gay tactics to boost your election prospects. Damn.
http://www.lsj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070224/NEWS01/70224001

Anthos, Capitol's 'dome man', dies after attack

Associated Press

DETROIT - Andrew Anthos died Friday of injuries sustained during an attack last week outside his downtown Detroit apartment building. Family members said he was a victim of an anti-gay hate crime.

Anthos was on a city bus Feb. 13 when a man asked him if he was gay. The man followed Anthos off the bus at the stop in front of his building and beat him with a metal pipe.

Anthos, whose family said he was gay, was taken to a hospital and later fell into a coma. . .

. . .Anthos waged a 20-year campaign to illuminate the dome of the state Capitol in red, white and blue for one night each year.

The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force has offered to pay Anthos' funeral expenses.

[maddezmom]

1. recommend #5

what a sad and sick story. :( Rest in Peace Andrew Anthos.

[Tinksrival]

20. I found a wonderful article on Andrew

snip>>>

“I looked at the dome and thought, ‘Gee, Michigan is celebrating its 150th anniversary in 1987 - what can I do?’” he said. “I thought everyone would be as excited as I was about the proposal.”

Anthos, who lives alone in his Detroit apartment, spent the past 15 years collecting signatures and traveling around the state with his tattered cardboard “Honk to light the dome” sign.

snip>>>>

“When I stand on the corner, everyone recognizes me,” he said, reaching into a dusty plastic bag for yellowed newspaper articles about his mission. “Cars go by the thousands, honking. Even the leaves on the trees know me.”

But it’s been a long road. The efforts to light the dome have been virtually ignored by members of the state Legislature, Anthos said.

“If I was a person of importance, the dome would have been lit years ago,” he said. “It’s been very heartbreaking and very painful, but I feel I owe something back to Michigan.”


http://www.statenews.com/article.phtml?pk=12699 :cry: THEY SHOULD LIGHT IT FOR ANDREW! (For all the andrews)

[Tinksrival]

22. More info on Andrew

From Detroit's WDIV:

The victim, Andrew Anthos, was riding a city bus back to his residence at Detroit's Windsor Tower apartments on Feb. 13 when another male passenger asked him if he was gay, Anthos's niece, Athena Fedenis said.
Anthos was followed by the man from the bus and beaten with a pipe in front of his apartment, Fedenis said.

"It just doesn't make any sense," Magealine Hloros, the victim's aunt said. "Why do people have to hurt each other?"

Anthos is barely able to speak above a whisper and is paralyzed from the neck down. He is currently at Detroit Receiving Hospital, his family said.




Then he passed on...... heartbreaking.

Michigan needs to light that dome!

[mcscajun]

2. faygokid, please edit your subject...

the headline is: Anthos, Capitol's 'dome man', dies after attack

Thanks!

:hi:

[Flubadubya]

19. Doesn't that rule apply to LBN only?

Not trying to be contrary; I even went looking for the rules and found that this one (rule #4 - i.e. using headlines in subject line) seems to be for LBN only. I could be wrong, of course. :shrug:

Please direct me to the rule if it applies to GD also; I was not able to find it. Thanks.

[peacebird]

3. Sad, sad, sad... What a senseless tragedy...

I hope they catch the sick creep that did this.

:cry:

[WindRavenX]

4. And people still think being GLBT is safe in America

Sadly, not. We have much work to do.

:kick: for Anthos.

[tbyg52]

13. I don't. I don't think being different in any way is safe here, unfortunately. nt

[Giant Robot]

5. Often I am ashamed of my state

When it comes to LGBT issues. This is another sad time.

[LiberalFighter]

6. I would favor people like these receiving the same that they meted out.

The guy wasn't causing harm to the attackers.

[shaniqua6392]

7. I live a few minutes from Detroit

and I never saw this story anywhere. What is wrong with the media? I am going to scour my Detroit Free Press from today and see if I can find anything. How horrible.

[xchrom]

8. remember AFA opposes making crimes like this a hate crime.

rest in peace, andrew -- you are gone too soon.

[PA Democrat]

9. Damn is right. I hope they catch the monster who did this.

[Mich Otter]

10. Thank the Conservative Republicans for This Death.

This kind of crime needs to be blamed upon Conservatives and Republicans. It is the Republican drive to get the votes of so many white males that has them being supportive of hating Gays in America.

Republicans can't run an economy, unless you want it run down.
Republicans can't manage a war against a third world country like Iraq or even Afghanistan.
Republicans can't manage to keep any goverment agencys running smoothly, except the ones that are granting money to friends of Republicans.
Republicans need to keep everyone living in fear, so they can spin their lies of being the better choice to defend us.
Republicans are no good for the Environment in which we all live.
Republicans have proven they are the worst crooks around when they get control of our country.

Gay-bashing is the biggest issue the Republicans have to offer anyone anymore. The only issue the Republicans have to run on anymore is, they support your right to be a hate-filled piece of shit in America.

Fear and hatred are the cornerstones of Republican ideology anymore. It is so disgusting what America is willing to tolerate. This country needs to grow the hell up.

[gollygee]

11. How awful

:cry:

What a terrible tragedy. :(

[xultar]

12. People who kill beauty in our society make me sick to my stomach.

[cali]

14. This makes me so angry I don't know what to say

The fucking cretin who did this should be put away for life.

This is so heartbreaking.

[CrazyOrangeCat]

15. It's the mindset that Reagan and his cronies . . .

. . . took from the margins and made mainstream.

Bastards, all of them. May this asshole rot in prison.

And so may the neocons brownshirts that enable and encourage this.

:grr:

[enigmatic]

16. This is disgusting

RIP, Mr. Anthos. You deserves better from humanity..

[Olney Blue]

17. Oh no. RIP, Mr. Anthos.

:cry:

[Dastard Stepchild]

18. Ohhh....he died :(

I had been following his story, hoping that by some small miracle, he would pull through.

[Vidar]

21. Another "triumph" for the knuckle-draggers--disgusting & senseless.

[fujiyama]

23. Truly awful...Just disgusting

This state's record on how it treats gays is pretty poor. It's not something that can be completely blamed on republicans either. Homophobia is very great in Detroit as well. It's not rare to hear people in the city talk about what an awful president Bush is, but the next minute, complain about those 'fuckin fags'.