An alleged attack early Monday morning is the latest in a series of hate crimes reported in West Hollywood’s “Boystown” in recent months. Jose Segovia, a model who go-go dances at local spots like Revolver, claims he was hanging out with friend Alex Barragan when things took a turn for the grim.
According to his statement, a stranger began arguing with Segovia outside popular nightclub Rage, and then abruptly hit him in the head and in the eye. Segovia claims his attacker wasn’t alone, and that as many as ten others may have contributed to the battery before ultimately fleeing down Santa Monica Boulevard.
Related: Disturbing Video Catches Antigay Hate Crime in Atlanta
A friend of Segovia’s described the attack in a Facebook post: “Joe and Alex Barragan were out having a good time in West Hollywood… They were both jumped, called names such as fags, faggots, wetbacks, and ‘go back to your country…’ Nobody did anything to help.”
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The incident occurred on the heels of an attack on DJ Benjamin Castro outside Micky’s bar on June 22. A serious attack on 45-year-old Kirk Doffing left the accountant with a severe skull fracture — he was in a coma for several days, and is still unable to speak.
Several other locals have claimed to be assaulted in recent weeks but won’t give their names, making it difficult to verify their claims.
h/t: WEHOville
Greg Garavani
That’s horrible, it’s incidents like these that make me ruthless when it comes to attacks. We clearly know we’re more vulnerable for being gay so we need to protect ourselves, whether it’s self defense classes or weapons. I don’t care anymore, I wish a sick breeder would anything, it’s survival of the fittest out there.
SonOfKings
It’s just terrible out here for gay men nowadays. Disrespected and assaulted at every turn.
SeeingAll
No description of the attackers ??
Giancarlo85
This just pisses me off. What gives people a right to attack someone else? Or even put a finger on them? Free country…
Bob LaBlah
My. I do hope this wasn’t a gay gang fight. Not enough info is given it seems from the “victims”. Don’t think “they” don’t have a dark side as well when it comes to easy money.
Stache99
“Nobody did anything to help.”
Typical fag behavior. Right in the fucking middle of west hollywood!!!! I have no doubt that they all just stood around and watched like scared little sheep. So sick of hearing these stories.
Glücklich
@Stache99:
Armchair quarterback much?
Just put cameras everywhere. Works in London and Tokyo.
And before anyone complains about not wanting to live in a police state, you could always try, I dunno, NOT BREAKING ANY LAWS. If you’re not doing anything wrong, who cares who’s watching? Shit, I love having tons of cops down in my neighborhood, if the stupid deBlabbio would just let them do their jobs.
Giancarlo85
@Glücklich: true. London has a superb system of cameras. It would be excellent here in America in tracking down criminals.
Some here think they have a crystal ball and know everything about people.
Black buns
I don’t think things are going to get easier for LGTB community, which I am a proud ‘card-carrier’, with a Pride event coming up in my hometown and I’m excited but nervous. Remember with so many doors opening up for this beautiful and loving community (LGTB), there is also going to be a strong resistance and of course there are going to be doors closing at the same time. This beautiful man, yes HUNTY, even though he looks hurt and maybe his pride more than his face because he still looks AMAZING. Remember it’s hard to hold a ‘good man down’ and it’s hard to destroy such a beautiful man (inside and out). Right now he is bold, strong and brave for coming out and speaking about this awful crime that was done to him. I am a victim of an attack (a few times) and I remember being so embarrassed and ashamed because I’m fairly tall and a BIG guy (no punt intended………Heheheheheehhehe) but when I was beat up, I felt so hopeless and helpless and I stayed in my house for at least 2 weeks and then I was very careful and cautious, which all of us should be but I was out-of-control scared. Those feelings were new to me because I have been a ‘night owl’ most of life and even had a few night jobs and no not as an ‘ESCORT’ but if the economy doesn’t pick up, that might be a ‘career change’. I never felt afraid or scared but after that happen to me, you couldn’t tell me anything about going out after dark. It’s running gag for sometimes about gay men and their night not starting until after dark but that is the truth but I wasn’t just afraid of being attacked but my social life was suffering and I was single then, so you know I was ‘itching’ to go out and ‘shake a leg’. This sounds horrible to write but I think that the LGTB community is going to have to go out and learn to protect ourselves in all types of situations. Some kind of self-defense course or something because I’m one of the most laid-back guys on God’s green Earth and when I was being attacked, I had no ideal what was going on. I had no clue how to defend myself because I can throw a hell of party but I wouldn’t know how to throw a punch that could hurt you and I should be able to do so because I’m built like a boxer or ‘linebacker’.
gaym50ish
His attackers were obviously in the neighborhood for the sole purpose of beating up on some queers. What other reason would they have to be outside a gay club — or anywhere in West Hollywood, for that matter?
I hate to think it has come to this, but those clubs need to have some security officers on the street and patrolling the nearby parking areas. Decades ago I remember going club-hopping in Dallas and was surprised that every gay bar had outside security roaming areound. That was Texas, and a long time ago, but it looks like clubs in other areas need to do the same.
Cagnazzo82
“Go back to your own country”? These guys must feel brave going after gay people just minding their own business. They don’t have the cojones try that out in an actual latino neighborhood so they go after easy targets.
Bob LaBlah
@gaym50ish: “What other reason would they have to be outside a gay club — or anywhere in West Hollywood, for that matter?”
Splash, Chi Chi’s, The Tunnel and several other clubs in Manhattan were forced to closed their doors due to the number of drug arrests made in those clubs. Race be damned do not get the impression that the reason all of those guys hanging around outside a club are there cruising. Many of them are there waiting for their customers, both paying and those who owe them money and didn’t pay up. Yes, kiddies, the gay community is NOT immune from “gangsters”. Dutch Schultz, the Purple gang, Meyer Lansky,Pablo Escobar/Griselda Blanco (who got her JUST deserts a few years ago) wannabe’s are in our community as well.
Giancarlo85
@gaym50ish: Well, the weird thing is they often do have security… I just don’t know what happened here. And I been to West Hollywood my fair share of times. I guess the attackers just waited for the opportunity when security was not around or something along that lines.
Captain Obvious
Some guy in a red convertible flying through West Hollywood took the time to call me a “stupid faggot” while I was living there… right on Santa Monica. Left me scratching my head since he chose to drive through the only specifically gay area in the city in a red convertible… looking just as gay as me.
Los Angeles is quite homophobic despite all the crap they say on tv. I had been called a faggot quite a bit there and had straight guys constantly claim I was hitting on them or have them hit on me as bait to complain later. Of course my gay dar pinged a lot so I assume most of them were closeted. Even my sister’s boyfriend hit on me at one point. That place is a mess.
My conservative state that still flies the confederate flag has been like heaven by comparison. That’s the sad state of affairs in Los Angeles.
Good luck to all the other suckers who bought into the gay mecca false advertising. Maybe it was in the 70s-80s… not so much now. Move somewhere else, LA is not worth it.
Stache99
@Captain Obvious: Well, I’ve lived here for going on 15 years and never once been called faggot. Of coarse I don’t live in West Hollywood and dress like 3 alarm fire if you know what I mean.
In LA the gay and straight community is more integrated then allot of other places. The straights party right along with the gays as opposed to having separated areas. You put them together and something is bound to happen. Plus, Weho is right in the middle of everything and just more obvious.
I’m still confused how these guys got out without being at least identified by someone. It’s very open and there would’ve been lots of people out.
Bob LaBlah
@Captain Obvious: Get a load of this.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjgSWzXkjPQ
Wahya73
@Glücklich: Maybe you should ask to have the police live you, since you seem to love them so much.