Gay man attacked inside restroom at New York's legendary Stonewall Inn
Mon. October 4, 2010 11:51 PM by GoPride.com News Staff
New York City -
Two Staten Island men are under arrest, accused of brutally attacking a gay man inside the bathroom at the landmark Stonewall Inn bar in New York City.
The Stonewall Inn is regarded as the birthplace of the gay rights movement. In 1969, after a lifetime of discrimination, the patrons finally fought back against an anti-gay police raid.
But on Sunday, 34-year-old Benjamin Carver of Washington, D.C. was in the bathroom when the two thugs, identified by the New York Post as 21-year-old Matthew Francis and 17-year-old Christopher Orlando started calling him names.
They demanded money and then punched him, but Carver fought back and the brawl eventually spilled out of the restroom and into the bar.
Eventually Carver's boyfriend and the bartender chased them out. The NYPD soon arrested them. Carver praised the fast action of the police and had advice for other gay men.
"If you've ever been bullied or attacked, then fight back with all you have," said Carver. "Don't let them win."
The Stonewall Inn is regarded as the birthplace of the gay rights movement. In 1969, after a lifetime of discrimination, the patrons finally fought back against an anti-gay police raid.
But on Sunday, 34-year-old Benjamin Carver of Washington, D.C. was in the bathroom when the two thugs, identified by the New York Post as 21-year-old Matthew Francis and 17-year-old Christopher Orlando started calling him names.
They demanded money and then punched him, but Carver fought back and the brawl eventually spilled out of the restroom and into the bar.
Eventually Carver's boyfriend and the bartender chased them out. The NYPD soon arrested them. Carver praised the fast action of the police and had advice for other gay men.
"If you've ever been bullied or attacked, then fight back with all you have," said Carver. "Don't let them win."