Lives entwined: Paroled gay killer and pioneering gay activist

“Paul Broussard was walking across a parking lot just after 2:00 a.m., on July 4, 1991, in Houston's Montrose neighborhood with his friends Cary Anderson and Richard Delaunay when the trio was attacked by 10 young men from The Woodlands area,” according to a Wikipedia description of the murder of Paul Broussard.

“All but three of the attackers were under 17, and the eldest of them—Paul Chance Dillon—was 22. All attended McCullough High School in The Woodlands. The ‘Woodlands Ten’ as they became known, had spent the two days prior to the attack binging on alcohol. Hours before the attack, they piled into two cars and cruised Montrose harassing men they presumed to be gay. They identified their targets by asking directions to Heaven, a popular area gay bar and threw rocks at men who answered with directions.”

Among the ten gay bashers was 17-year-old Jon Buice, who was armed with a knife. All ten of the young men entered into plea agreements. Buice received the longest sentence – 45 years – because he confessed to stabbing Broussard, according to Wikipedia. Jon Buice, now 41, was paroled on Wednesday.

In coverage of the parole, Towleroad.com says, “Broussard’s slaying was among the first anti-gay hate crimes to receive widespread media attention in the US, and it continued to make headlines in recent years thanks to the controversy over whether Jon Buice, the knife-man who inflicted the fatal wounds, should be paroled.”

Pioneering Houston gay activist Ray Hill was involved in solving the murder from the start. Wikimedia says, “Houston Gay Rights Advocate Ray Hill went to the Houston Police to find out the progress in the case. Once he heard that they had no intention of pursuing a gay murder, he met with television and newspaper outlets while helping to organize the largest gay rights protests in Houston's history. 

“Queer Nation Houston helped organize the large public protests, some of which took place in front of the mayor's house, with Nancy Rodriguez [Broussard’s mother] participating. The resulting media attention led to one of the assailants' girlfriends calling the police.”

Ray Hill was at the prison gate to welcome Jon Buice back to the world. ABC13 reported, “Hill was there Wednesday morning when Jon Buice walked out of prison after serving 23 years of his 45 year sentence.

“’I was the second person he hugged when he walked out of the door today. He hugged his father then he grabbed on me and was a little longer holding on to me,’ said Ray Hill.

"’He said I'm scared and I said I know and I understand,’ Hill explained. Hill has also done prison time.

The path to the friendship between Jon Buice and Ray Hill is strange. Hill related his involvement in solving the case to ABC13, “’I said look I want aggressive prosecution on these cases. We had every reason to believe that it was a gay bash homicide. It was right after gay pride week in June,’ said Hill.”

Four year after the crime, there was a “bombshell twist,” according to the TV station. "’That he might have been a danger is totally fabrication that I created to solve the case and it's my fault,’ said Hill.”

ABC13’s interview with Hill relates the activist’s changing mind. "’John didn't give me anything that gave me any indication not only that there was some prejudice against gay people, but his favorite uncle’s a gay, he had gay people all around him and he was going to a gay bar in Houston. I didn't know that until I met John,’ added Hill.

“Hill met with the other nine suspects and concluded the same about them.

"’I realize these boys don't need my forgiveness I need theirs',’ said Hill.”

Towleroad’s report revealed that not all LGBT activists in Houston agree with Hill. “Buice penned an apology to the LGBT community and earned four college degrees, including his master’s, while in prison. But Noel Freeman, former president of the Houston GLBT Political Caucus, called Buice’s release ‘a travesty of justice.’”

Hill says Buice has forgiven him.

Hill told ABC13, "’I've been corresponding and talking to him [Buice] twice a week on the telephone,’ said says Hill.

“Hill's crusade to right the wrong has been a long road, and it didn't come at an easy cost for either of them.

"’I have to live with some unethical crap and me on my shield. I've got to clean it up for my own conscience so I had to do this,’ added Hill.

“There are some people who still think it was a hate crime. Under the terms of his parole, Buice will have to wear ankle monitor, avoid contact with the victim's family and get permission from his parole officer if he ever wants to return to Harris County,” the TV station’s report concluded.

Ray Hill, who is also an ex-convict and host of “The Prison Show,” according to Wikipedia, “has said [in 2002] he hopes Buice will take over as host of ‘The Prison Show’ upon his release.”

The Gayly – December 31, 2015 @ 2 p.m.