A gay couple in NYC was severely injured after a gang of six men attacked them in the Chelsea neighborhood. The two victims of the attack, Peter Notman and Michael Felenchak, were leaving the theatre after a movie night out holding hands when they were approached by two men yelling anti-gay slurs. Four other men joined the two in the attack.
RELATED: Mexican PAN Congresswoman On Gay Marriage: Only Between Couples Who Have Sex While Looking In Each Other's Eyes
"They were here. They were in the middle of the street. They were like, 'What are you look at, you f**? Boom," Peter Notman told WCBS. "It was six of them against the two of us, typical of the cowards they are."
He also added, "I ran into the lobby to try to get away from them, and then they dispersed once they saw that we were in the lobby and told the guy to call the police. I was hit with brass knuckes down the side of my face, and I had contusions; had to have an MRI, and Michael received several stitches in his mouth where they punched us."
RELATED: Orlando Cruz, Openly Gay Puerto Rican Boxer, Proposes To His Boyfriend Over Facebook [VIDEO]
The two men spent the night in the emergency room after the brawl. Check out the disturbing picture down below.
State Senator Brad Hoylman weighed in on the subject in a press conference to stand by Nortman and Falenchak after the brutal attack.
"It means a lot to me as an LGBT individual that you take it upon yourselves to be here --- to represent our community --- at such a difficult time."
The NYC neighborhood of Chelsea is known for its art scene and its gay-friendly community. This has outraged neighbors in the area that find the attack appalling.
“Chelsea of all places? Really?” Toby Berkowitz told WCBS. “You’re here because it’s a very homogenized mix of people. We love that. But if you don’t feel safe in front of your local movie theater, where would you?”
Police are investigating the incident and labeling it as a hate crime. Both victims feel confident in the NYPD in capturing the attackers.
“We have our complete faith in the NYPD — they are great guys; they’re amazing. They’re going to find the guys,” Felenchak said.
© 2024 Latin Times. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
