Just a little rant for this week before another 'proper' history article...
As some Brisbanites would know, Tracey Wigginton was recently released from prison after serving 21 years for the 1989 murder of council worker Edward Baldock. She and three friends lured him to a West End park where he was then stabbed 27 times. During the subsequent trial her co-defendants claimed that Wigginton had 'drank' some of his blood and had a bit of a vampire thing going on, supposedly avoiding sunlight and mirrors, drinking blood obtained from the butchers, possessing 'occult powers', and all that other childish lame crap that vampire-obsessed wannabees do before they grow up.
As some Brisbanites would know, Tracey Wigginton was recently released from prison after serving 21 years for the 1989 murder of council worker Edward Baldock. She and three friends lured him to a West End park where he was then stabbed 27 times. During the subsequent trial her co-defendants claimed that Wigginton had 'drank' some of his blood and had a bit of a vampire thing going on, supposedly avoiding sunlight and mirrors, drinking blood obtained from the butchers, possessing 'occult powers', and all that other childish lame crap that vampire-obsessed wannabees do before they grow up.
Given the habit of reporters to come up with sensationalist nicknames for criminals, it was no surprise that Wigginton attracted a silly label. Given the fact that the crime was committed in West End and she liked playing vampires, the 'West End Vampire Killer' might have been expected, but as this was Queensland in 1989, a time when male homosexual activity was actually illegal, then the fact that Wigginton was gay was considered to be an important part of her 'media character' and she was accordingly dubbed the 'Lesbian Vampire Killer'.
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| A terrible, terrible movie that is either about people who kill lesbian vampires, or lesbians who kill vampires, or maybe lesbian vampires who kill people. |
I'm not going to get into some debate about the length of her sentence or what kind of a person she is, but was does annoy me is the way a whole new generation of idiot reporters have jumped on the 'Lesbian Vampire Killer' bandwagon, using the term in every headline, in every second sentence, and in every story on the case. It annoys me because the nickname is straight-out homophobic.
Since when does the sexuality of a murderer actually get incorporated into their nickname? Ever heard of 'Jack the Heterosexual Ripper' or the 'Bi-Curious Boston Strangler'? Of course not. It seems that the sexuality of murderers is only worth mentioning if they're not straight, like it somehow makes them more evil.
The fact that this woman is gay is of no consequence and has nothing to do with the crime she committed. So why push the word 'lesbian' to the front of every story about her? It is not 1989 anymore, and its about time some reporters realised that.
I must confess I also chuckled at the play on words, her moniker could imply she kills lesbian vampires... (ooh, there's a new idea, blending 2 fads into one, set the story in LA and it's gold). You might be asking too much to expect the media to be anything other than sensationalist.
ReplyDeleteThis story also gives West End a bad name, this delightful, interesting suburb doesn't need this kind of negative connection.