A San Francisco man who was recently gay bashed shared a powerful video on Facebook that is going viral.
Jeffrey Lafayette says he was attacked by over 20 people, and that the attack was triggered by his decision to wear white pants (he dryly mentions in the video the bashing had “nothing to do with Labor Day”).
But those are the semantics. His video isn’t about his injuries or being a victim, it’s to send a message to everyone out there who may be getting knocked down (metaphorically or literally) to always get back up:
“But no matter how hard they hit, no matter how cruel life will be, you must always GET UP!”
It’s a short and deeply powerful video that has been viewed nearly one million times. Lafayette is temporarily unable to work due to his injuries, and he set up a GoFundMe page to cover his expenses while he recovers.
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
Watch below, and make sure you stick around for his final message.
joeyty
Uh huh. I was beaten up in NYC by 30 people for wearing white pants, too.
Bruce Dillon
STOP The hate!
L(*;*()VE
Stache
Well, hope someone has a video of it. I can’t imagine 20 thugs bashing this guy escaped peoples attention.
RIck Dean
Stay strong man. I’m with you in spirit
Paco
I want to believe him but after a web search for a real article on the attack I read that,
1. 20 straight guys were involved.
2. Police weren’t called.
3. The location of the attack is unclear.
Strange.
Stache
@Paco: Umm I don’t think those injuries were self inflicted.
Stache
@Bruce Dillon: This is the love they need. Colt 45 kind.
https://youtu.be/V7Nci-GVuHE
joeyty
@Paco: AND..they beat him and spit on him for wearing white pants. Uh huh.
Paco
@Stache: one friends was a “witness” so who knows. Just saying that he is missing a lot of important details in his story, but got his priorities in order enough to set up a go fund me page.
joeyty
@Stache: The Dirty Harry movies are from when San Francisco was fascinating. “Bullitt” and “The Laughing Policeman” too. Not the expensive politically-correct bore it is now.
joeyty
@Paco: And I think 20 people beating you would leave you in the hospital.
Paco
@joeyty: well according to queerty in another bashing attack, one woman single handedly perpetrated a very violent attack on two gay men that left one of them with a broken face while two straight guys just stood there and watched. Anything is possible?
joeyty
@Paco: Queerty had also believed the ridiculous Rick Jones case, where the guy claimed to have been firebombed, made to drink bleach, and had “Fag” carved into his arm by some phantom attacker.
Gary James
Gosh, I feel bad for what happened to you. This is so wrong on many levels. Be strong and always be yourself. My partner and I suffered similar while holding hands on the way out of the theater. My surprise, was everybody sided with us. Know that you have friends, us too that care very much about you.
corey
I’m stuck on the white pants…was he also called anti-gay names?
Ummmm Yeah
@Paco: And he collected 10k in donations for his “injuries”. He was asking for 9K but got it so he went a head and took another thousand dollars for good measure.
Paco
@Ummmm Yeah: 10k in donations? Wow. Not bad considering no location could be pinned down so police or reporters could look for possible witnesses or surveillance footage from nearby businesses and homes. Surely someone noticed a group of 20 guys beating up a guy wearing white pants. If I am wrong to doubt the victim, then I am truly sorry. But from what I have read, the only thing adding up is his donations.
Stache
@onthemark: Yeah, Bernhard Goetz style. Points for shooting the bastards in the back as their running away. You can never be too sure.
joeyty
@Paco: Makes you wonder when gay men and their allies will finally reach the point of adopting just the teeniest bit of critical-thinking, just enough to say “Can I see a little more evidence this actually happened before I hand you my money…. ?”
Cindy Gordon
That is so sad why can’t people just let them be they are not hurting no body
offlimitsshow
This guy is on Periscope and I’ve watched him for over a year. He’s always drunk and crying, usually over his ex boyfriend. He seems unbalanced to me – i am not sure that this is legitimate – I hate to question someone who was an actual victim, but it feels suspicious to me knowing him as I do from Periscope
onthemark
Do we know for sure this had nothing to do with Labor Day? He may be totally misunderstanding the rule on that. (Possibly because he’s a Californian and just doesn’t know any better.) Because it’s after Labor Day, and before Memorial Day, you are NOT supposed to be wearing white pants – PERIOD! That’s the rule!
@Stache: Ha! Yeah, it seems like every gay-bashing victim talks like the Dalai Fucking Lama, all this love & resilience & compassion crap. Just once I’d like to see one get really pissed off! (before asking us for money, lol).
joeyty
@RIck Dean: No, send money !!
joeyty
Actually, he withdrew the Fundraising thing. I think he knows he……better…
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Stache
@Paco: Thanks for doing some investigation. All good points.
Baba Booey Fafa Fooey
@offlimitsshow: Post the link. Any profile?
@Paco: “If I am wrong to doubt the victim, then I truly am sorry”. No, you’re not. Lol. Don’t be dishonest.
offlimitsshow
@Baba Booey Fafa Fooey: Post what link??
HO Weng Choy
It’s really sad to see this happened to you or anyone . There is always someone that love you and that will keep you enjoying life. Best wishes.
Sam Oropeza
Damn! Stay positive man.
Donald J Dewsnup
Seriously folks, his face is completely swollen compared to the pictures on his facebook. I suspect from timing of his FB pics before the attack this happened around 2am. And trust me everyone in SF was pretty much shit faced last Sat night for #SB50. Therefore, trust me the SFPD was very busy that night and I highly doubt they would have showed up soon after the incident. Being bullied and beat up is traumatizing especially when everyone is drunk. I give this fella a badge of courage for sending a positive message like this, probably from the advice of his parents and close friends. If you still don’t believe his story well that’s on you. I trust his story till proven otherwise.
Roy Hortman
Really bad thing. Please hang in there. You are strong.
joeyty
Saw him on CBS news San Francisco. Brief interview. Now I’m SURE he’s a fraud. Nothing to back yup his story.
joeyty
And he took his Facebook page down.
joeyty
But it really shows how genuinely stupid the gay community of San Francisco must be, that they would ever have believed such a silly story.