Texas couple hospitalised in ‘homophobic’ attack after birthday drinks
A gay couple from Austin, Texas, were reportedly hospitalised after a homophobic attack early on Saturday morning.
Spencer Deehring and Tristan Perry had been out in Austin to celebrate a friend’s birthday on Friday night (January 18), reports KXAN.
The two left Rain nightclub on 4th Street at about 2:45am.
Gay couple at friend’s birthday drinks
The couple said that they were holding hands when another man subjected them to a homophobic slur.
The gay couple verbally confronted the man over the insult but were followed by the man and a group of his friends, who had been out of sight around the corner.
Speaking to KXAN, Perry said he believed that the couple were near 7th Street and Red River Street when they were attacked, but that he could not be certain of the specific location as he can’t remember much because of his head injuries.
Deehring told the news outlet: “They started following behind us pretty closely yelling every expletive you can think of.
Tristan Perry sustained a broken nose and other facial injuries. (KXAN)
“The last thing I said to one of the guys before they attacked both of us was like, ‘I don’t have anything more to say to you guys, we’re just going home, leave us alone.'”
“It shouldn’t happen to anyone else, and it breaks my heart that it’s probably going to [keep happening] until these guys are caught.”
—Victim Tristan Perry
Deehring said that one of the men hit Petty in the face, causing him to fall to his knees, where the men continued to kick him.
He said he attempted to tackle one of the men to protect his boyfriend but was knocked unconscious by the attackers.
Gay couple treated in hospital after attack
Perry sustained a broken nose, chipped teeth and facial bruising.
He also has a cut to the back of his head and is suffering from memory loss.
A member of the public phoned the emergency services.
Both Deehring and Perry were taken to hospital for treatment.
The couple said they have filed a police report.
Perry said he believed their assailants would continue to attack other LGBT+ people if they aren’t arrested.
“It shouldn’t happen to anyone else, and it breaks my heart that it’s probably going to [keep happening] until these guys are caught,” he told KXAN.
“Living in Corpus Christi and moving to Austin, I thought, ‘Oh everyone is going to be so open-minded,'” Perry said. “I think that a lot of people think that and it’s overlooked that this could happen to anybody, anywhere, anytime.”
The couple believe they were attacked because they were holding hands.
