New York: Teen charged following attack on gay rights activist
A teenager has been charged in connection with an attack on a gay rights activist in New York City.
Manuel Riquelme, 19, allegedly assaulted Eugene Lovendusky, 28, founder of Queer Rising, during the early hours of Saturday 25 May near Time Square on West 42nd Street.
Riquelme has been charged with a hate crime and aggravated harassment after allegedly hitting Mr Lovendusky in the face.
Sources told local news station NY1 that Mr Lovendusky was leaving the XL nightclub with his boyfriend and another friend when a group of nine teenagers, including Riquelme, passed the three men and started shouting anti-gay abuse.
The victim was not seriously hurt, according to reports.
Mr Lovendusky had been active in campaigning against a recent spate of homophobic incidents in the city, including the murder of Mark Carson, 32, who was shot in the head in the West Village on 17 May.
In addition to Mr Carson’s death, Saturday’s attack marked the ninth alleged anti-LGBT crime in New York over the past month.
