Sometimes things happen that just leave you too shocked for the words to express what you feel. A 74-year-old man, Andrew Anthos was beaten to death in Detroit because he was gay.

Although I did not know him well, I did know Andrew through my job. He was a kind and gentle person, who could also be a little eccentric. The last time I spoke with him was sometime before Christmas. A few days later I received an e-mail from him, or was it a letter? It bothers me now that I can't remember which it was, but I do remember that I did follow through on the favor he had requested.

Yesterday I found out about the attack and I tried to call the hospital several times but there was no answer in his room. I wanted to send him some yellow roses to cheer him up but I was not sure how long he would be there. In fact today we were at the office going through some old files and we ran across several pictures of Andrew taken sometime in the 1970s. Later in the day I found out that he had died last night.

Andrew spent the last years of his life advocating for something he believed in. This man, that so many hate because of his sexuality, spent the last twenty years of his life (and much of his own money) gathering signatures to light the outside of Michigan's capital "with the soft colors of red, white and blue” on special occasions and holidays to honor those who have serve our country.



What kind of sick person does this to a patriotic 74-year-old man?

http://www.gay.com/news/article.html?2007/02/22/4