Yesterday we mentioned an apparent hate crime against two men who say they were attacked after leaving a cinema in Chelsea, one of New York City's most gay friendly neighborhoods. Here is a video report from our local CBS affiliate on that attack, an attack that involved brass knuckles and that the victims say felt premeditated.
But the men, Peter Notman and Michael Felenchak, didn't just let it happen: they said the fought back and that the attackers "ran like cowards." And they now have the entire NYPD and many local politicians behind them. One, mayoral candidate and openly gay City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, appeared with the men at a press conference yesterday.
"I am appalled by reports that two men were senselessly beaten in Chelsea simply because they were perceived to be gay," she said. "The cowardly individuals who committed this crime do not represent New Yorkers and our community will not be cowed by such violence. New York City's greatest strength is our diversity, and we will not stand for attacks against anyone, for any reason."
The attack is just one in a spate of anti-gay attacks in recent months, including Mark Carson's May murder.
Here are two reports on the most recent incident, one from New York's CBS affiliate, and the other from our ABC outlet.
