Gay Couple Beaten By Mob Of Six For Holding Hands In New York City

• 
  
• 
  
• 
  

The NYPD is searching for six suspects involved in an anti-gay attack in Chelsea last night. According to reports, the mob of people targeted two gay men holding hands on West 24th Street, and beat them while yelling anti-gay slurs.
ABC 7 reports that “at some point a confrontation ensued between the groups and the suspects allegedly surrounded the victims and attacked them twice.”
The two victims, ages 53 and 27, were treated at a nearby hospital and released shortly after. One sustained a laceration to the side of his face, while the other had a laceration on his chin that required seven stitches.
City Council Speaker Christine Quinn (who wants to be your first gay mayor!) was the first to issue a statement regarding the attacks this morning:
“I am appalled by reports that two men were senselessly beaten in Chelsea simply because they were perceived to be gay. Holding hands as they walked down West 24th Street, they were assaulted as their attackers hurled anti-gay slurs.
The number of anti-gay attacks in New York City grew to such overwhelming numbers earlier this year that several nonviolent protests were held throughout the city. Most of the assailants in previous cases have not been apprehended.
The NYPD is asking anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers at (866) 313-TIPS.