Earlier this week we told you about an unnamed suspect burning down porn star Matthew Camp’s Poughkeepsie home. Early morning on January 14, the performer was awakened after an “unknown person poured gasoline on the front porch creating an explosion.” The resulting fire burned for over three hours and left his house in an unliveable state.
Since Matthew posted about the attack, the story has made its way across many news sites, including the New York Times.
In the Times’ piece on the arson, entitled “Church of Satan’s ‘Halloween House’ Gutted by Arsonist,” writer talks about the house’s long history with the Church of Satan and how “local Church of Satan members are mourning the loss of their main gathering place.” The writer also goes into the history of the Halloween House, a nickname given to the property by community members, and how it used to be owned by Church of Satan priest Joseph Mendillo.
Camp, who was interviewed for the NYT piece, has now taken to Instagram to express his disappointment with the newspaper’s reporting. The popular performer seems to be upset with the newspaper for focusing their story on the home’s history and not how he and his friend were almost murdered or the victims of a possible anti-queer hate crime.
“@nytimes please stop with these sensationalist headlines. Someone tried to kill me and it’s all about ‘Halloween houses,'” Camp said on his Instagram story. “Hate crime. I’m visibly apart of the queer community and a sex worker-you think that’s not related to a murder attempt? Not even addressed by @nytimes. Stop silencing hate.”
While the City of Poughkeepsie Police Department said that they “quickly determined the fire was an arson,” they have not publicly commented on if this case is being considered a hate crime towards either Camp or the Church of Satan.
Before the story made national news, local publication The Poughkeepsie Journal also published a piece implying that the house could have been targeted due to its connection with The Church of Satan. The article did not make any mention of Camp or his sexuality/career.
While the arsonist’s identity is still unknown, as the city police and fire department investigate, city officials and church members know by the nature of the crime that this could not have been random.
“Sadly there are some ‘people of faith’ who are intolerant, and typically ignorant, of other belief systems,” High Priest of the Church of Satan Peter H. Gilmore said. “But Joe did not focus on bigoted people. Instead, he chose to be a vibrant part of Poughkeepsie.”
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In Camp’s original announcement about his house being burned down, he called the attack an “apparent hate crime” and said that he is now “just living day to day trying to piece together what’s left.” He also encouraged his friends and followers to spread the news about his attack.
“Share this story because queer people are still under attack all over the world,” wrote Camp on Instagram. “Our voices will not be silenced. Right now I’m just living day to day trying to piece together what’s left.”
You can get more information on the GoFundMe set up to help Camp here and you can read our original write-up about Camp’s house fire here.
It’s arson and attempted murder, and very possibly a hate crime, but no unbiased investigation would ignore that the house’s history could have made it a scion for religious attacks as well. They have to find out who did it before they can determine a motive definitively.
The only time I like the word ‘queer’. Thank you M. Camp. And thanks even more to the NYT for mentioning him as gay adult entertainer, not a queer.
Acts of arson are committed every day, and as devastating at they may be for the people involved they’re rarely considered to be newsworthy (unless, as thankfully wasn’t the case here, a fire ends up causing somebody’s death). The only reason the NY Times was writing about this in the first place is because the house was historically significant.
As far as the NYT is concerned, the destruction of the house is newsworthy. And (as gorgeous as MC is) its minor celebrity occupant is not.
Sad…. just sad… even the hate/envy on here. All other issues aside, he is a gay man and victim of a hate crime that not only destroyed his home, and everything he owned, but could have killed him. I live close to where his house was, and I know I think about anti-gay hate often… not necessarily explicit, though there is some of that around here, but still a feeling of not being able to be fully out is there, and I have never been shy about it
The New York Times ? Who believes a word they say ? Nobody !
This individual is a millionaire from all his ventures and he’s trying to get money from all these desperate men? You should all be ashamed. He makes more than enough to rebuild I don’t see why we have to help to a gofund me when he has more than enough of the money.
The apparent social and cultural issues in this case are most likely multi faceted. They always are. Included are any combination of random acts of vandalism, to a calculated hate crime based on an array of warped notions of what may constitute “credible employment,” to an inflammatory and homophobic reaction to the victim’s sexual orientation, to religious intolerance; and on and on…Regardless, the acts of violence are credible, serious, damaging at so many levels to the victims. Generally, any or all are indefensible. It is NOT fair for the media to generalize as a market strategy for profit. How would the NYT know the motivation? Any crime involving a LGBT victim should be treated as a hate crime until it is proven not to be a hate crime. Period.
This is a time and an occasion on which our community should come together in support of an obvious victim. Note to other respondents: Grow a set! Please stop with gender fuck pronouns i.e. “girl.” It is demeaning and so very 1960’s. Show some respect and a bit of empathy. Here we are, amidst a national crisis of unimaginable magnitude and a global pandemic which could well destroy the species. It IS a time for unity.
VCH, Professor Emeritus
The mainstream majority didn’t know who Matthew Shepard was, either, but it was still a hate crime. What a terrible thing to say to someone who lost everything.
I’m sorry Matthew but for the mainstream majority of audience they don’t care who you are. Sorry girl but not everyone watches gay porn. So don’t be shocked when majorly news outlets don’t care who you are since you’re not really that big of a deal outside of the gay porn community.
Fuck you!
You’ve made some baseless assertions coupled with homophobic accusations including a feminizations of Mr. Camp – a dead giveaway that you have some rather severe personal issues to compelled you to lash out. Please get some help.