Phoenix gay man ‘attacked by mob of 10 people’
Phoenix resident Cesar Martin says he was attacked by a mob of 10 people. (Cesar Marin/Facebook)
A gay man says he was attacked by a mob in Phoenix, Arizona, after a woman flicked a cigarette in his car and used a homophobic slur against him.
Cesar Marin posted on Facebook a picture of his battered face from a hospital bed on Saturday (March 16), describing the alleged attack.
“I was just gay bashed in downtown Phoenix. I was attacked by a mob of 10 people. It all started with 1 girl flicking her cigarette in my car and calling me a faggot. Before I knew it, I was surrounded in a hail of punches,” he wrote.
Cesar Marin says he his nose is broken in two different places as a result of the attack in downtown Phoenix. (Cesar Marin/Facebook)
Marin said that one man kicked him in the face once he was lying on the ground. “I have a broken nose and a swollen face and bruised body. Im home resting. Thanks for all your love!”
Phoenix police tells PinkNews the investigation is ongoing. They confirmed Marin reported the crime to the police and that officers retrieved a cigarette butt from his vehicle. No arrests have been made as yet.
Marin’s post received nearly 2,000 comments and was shared more than 1,500 times on Facebook.
“People don’t understand how much worse it is when the word faggot is thrown in there.”
— Phoenix resident Cesar Marin
In a video subsequently uploaded to the social media platform on Saturday (March 16), Marin said his nose was broken in two different places and had several bruises. He was still in a lot of pain from being hit, but was positive he was going to be ok.
“Frankly, I don’t know why this happened,” he said adding: “People don’t understand how much worse it is when the word faggot is thrown in there… People attacking you for something you just can’t control and something that wasn’t a choice.
Phoenix gay man thanks well-wishers
In the video, Marin also thanked the hundreds of people who sent him message of support.
“I really do appreciate all the love and support I’ve been getting from everybody. It really means a lot to me.”
Among those who expressed solidarity with Marin was Brianna Westbrook, vice chair of the Arizona Democratic Party and political director at the LGBT group Equality Arizona.
Westbrook shared Marin’s story on Facebook and wrote: “We must demand justice! The individuals that brutally assaulted Cesar will end up killing a member of our Phoenix LGBTQ community.”
