Three brutal gaybashings in Utah in the past two weeks

What the hell is going on in Utah? Three separate attacks on gays have been reported in the past two weeks. The first two happened in Salt Lake City. A group of men broke into a gay couple’s apartment and beat one of the men so severely he needed medical attention. Then on Aug 26, 20-year-old Dane Hall was attacked by four men after leaving a club. The suspects viciously beat Hall, repeatedly punching him and stomping on his head. His cheekbones were shattered and he lost six teeth. The most recent bashing occurred when Cameron Nelson was taking out the trash at his job at an American Fork hair salon. He told police that two or three people beat him up while yelling gay slurs. He was taken to the hospital, where he was treated for his injuries, including a broken nose.

Sgt Gregg Ludlow of the American Fork police department called the hate crime “disgusting” and “quite repugnant.” Meanwhile, Salt Lake City police are still investigating the other attacks.

I’m sorry, but the United States needs to get its shit together. There is so much fucking hate in that country, it’s unbelievable. I lived there for three years and consider New York my second home, but New York City is so separated from the homophobia, bigotry and closed-minded ignorance that seems to plague other parts of the USA. It is a country with so much potential, a country which could and should be a pioneer and example to other parts of the world when it comes to the equal rights and protection of its citizens. Isn’t that what America is supposed to be about? Land of the free and home of the brave? What a joke! There is so much discrimination and prejudice it’s beyond startling. As powerful as the words “disgusting” and “repugnant” are, it’s a sad reality that they are understatements when one considers the hate that seems to consume so many American people.

I can only imagine the terror these men felt when being attacked and hope they have the support they need to continue to courageously be themselves in a country that so defiantly disrespects and mistreats them.