Gay Murders in Montreal Paul Olsen As evidenced by the grusome death of Canadian Robert Pan- chaud on January 28, 1993, violence against gay men is hardly an America phenomenon. Panchaud’s death brings the number of gay men killed in Montreal since 1989 to at least thirteen. Eight of the murders were committed in the victims’ apart- ments, one in a hotel, and the remaining four men were killed in Montreal area parks. While the police investigate the unsolved cases, many members of Montreal’s gay community feel un- safe. Police investigators have not ruled out the possibility of a serial killer which the Montreal media have named “The Pred- ator”. The stabbing of 28 year old Robert Gallant in his downtown Village apartment on March 19, 1989 marked the beginning of this series of murders and the heightened concern of the gay community in Montreal. While many of the cases have been similar (all of the victims have either been brutally stabbed 15- 40 times or viciously beaten to death) police have had few leads over the past four years. Police speculate that the two most re- cent cases may be related as the victims appear to have met their killer at the same bar in Montreal’s Gay Village. In- vestigators have not found matching finger prints at any of the crime scenes. The police investigation into the murders in Montreal has not been without controversy. Leaders of Montreal’s gay com- munity cited homophobia as the reason for the slow response to the seriousness of the situation and the initial refusal of the po- lice to label the murders as bias related. Activists have also been critical of the police inference that these murders may have been the result of casual sexual encounters which they suggest perpetuates stereotypes about gay men and is not factual given the circumstances of each murder. Since this initial conflict, gay community groups and the police have joined forces to educate the gay and lesbian community about issues of safety and to share information that may help solve the cases. Vermonters may feel that they are immune from the violence of the big city. However, the murder of thirteen gay men in Mon- treal is in Ve1mont’s proverbial “own backyard”. With the hard work of the Montreal police and the gay community, these mur- ders may be solved. Whether at home or when visiting Mon- treal, visitors should heed the advice of the police and gay ac- tivists and be careful out there. V Large selection, low prices Available at Video Exchange 21 Stowe St., Waterbury. VT Phone: 244-7004 Hours: Mon.-Fri. 10-9, Sat. 10-5 Video Rental Club Now Available 7 '93 April 1993 FRESH WHOLESOME ORGAN’ CRUISE THE CO-OP SCOPE OUT THE GOODIES TAKE HOME SOMETHING LUSCIOUS 274 North Winooski Ave. Burlington 863-3659 M—S 9:30-7:30 SUN. 12:00-5-00 Friday, April 2 Women ’s Dance $6.00 5-9 p.m. Thursday, April 15 Juice Bar $3.00 cover 9 p.m. (All other Thursdays of the month, Free D.J.) Saturday, April 17 Ladies Lounge $6.00 7-10 pm. Wednesday, April 21 Texas Night Chili & Bread 6-10 p.m. Drink Specials Monday—Miller Lite Tuesday—Bud Night Wednesday—Well Drink Special Thursday—Rolling Rock c Friday and Saturday Door Cover Policy Before 9:00 pm. Free - 9:00 - 10:00 pm $1.00 After 10:00pm $3.00 135 Pearl Street 0 Burlington, Vermont S(lOO,:l 1VNO|.I.N3I\NO3 '3 O A ~.-, f‘.-'.mA:n.&-.\1_ ;-.,-..«s.,-.._r..-,;v.m;_-..~.«,+.y.t,-,t.r_.., -, ‘.rz.-.u::u'.ez7&1Tu7"*' mteza"