An adult film star says he and a friend were walking in West Hollywood when they were violently attacked for being gay.
Wesley Woods posted a video to Twitter describing what he says was a homophobic attack in arguably the world’s most prominent LGBTQ-friendly neighborhood.
Along with the video, Woods wrote:
“The enemy wants u to be afraid, they want to force you into their idea of normal. I am not, you aren’t, none of us are— “normal.
We live this life the best we can w/ what we’ve been given in hopes of being our true self. Do not hide, fight for your space to exist & ALWAYS be YOU.”
Here’s how the attack went down, according to Woods:
How about we take this to the next level?
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The enemy wants u to be afraid, they want to force you into their idea of normal. I am not, you aren’t, none of us are— “normal.” We live this life the best we can w/ what we’ve been given in hopes of being our true self. Do not hide, fight for your space to exist & ALWAYS be YOU pic.twitter.com/Rlqlh0Wlja
— Wesley Woods (@TheWesleyWoods) August 10, 2018
“My best friend and I were brutally attacked by three straight white hetero men in West Hollywood, California.
“We just happened to be walking down the sidewalk minding our own business.
“I’m not posting this video for sympathy, I’m posting this video for awareness. You’re not always safe in the places that you think you are.
“Always have someone next to you, always be aware of your surroundings, and be prepared to fight for your life. I’m not saying that’s a first means and that it’s always necessary, but in some cases it is.
“I wish you love, I wish you happiness, and I hope that if you guys see me out this weekend bearing my scars, you’ll say hello.
“They want to force you into their idea of normal. I am not, you aren’t, none of us are – ‘normal’.
“We live this life the best we can [with] what we’ve been given in hopes of being our true self. Do not hide, fight for your space to exist and always be you.”
After an outpouring of support, Woods posted this update:
Thank y’all for all the LURVE!!! LOTS OF NAPS!! I’m in great spirits— still processing, I have the GREATEST support and feel so loved! ????#hoesforhumanity (who wants cuddles)?! I DO, I DO!! ?? pic.twitter.com/AenmZ2LJPp
— Wesley Woods (@TheWesleyWoods) August 12, 2018
Vince
This is why I carry a nice and sharp knife. You might get the best of me but you’re going to pay for it:-)
Nosso Crankee
YASSSSS!
Geeker
I’m not a fan but this shouldn’t happen to anyone.
James
I hope the police catch them.
djmcgamester
I feel bad they were attacked. My only question here is how did the attackers know they were gay?
Kangol
Maybe they just assumed Woods and his friend were gay, and attacked. Either way, I hope the homophobic attackers are caught and locked up as soon as possible.
russdog
A lot of gay bashers purposely cruise known gay neighborhoods and areas looking for victims. Who knows what’s really going on in their screwed up heads, but it makes a difference that they go after gays in West Hollywood and not black dudes in South Central. When I lived in San Francisco, what we called the “bridge and tunnel” crowd (those who needed to cross into SF via the Bay Bridge or the BART subway tunnel) would stalk the Castro looking for men to attack. It was very common.
Lacuevaman
amen dude. AMEN!!
rray63
You are not supposed to ask questions like that! Though I wondered the same thing…
QueerTruth
Where’s the police report with this story? I don’t mean to doubt… but sadly when people go to social media, and not the police, I fear that the story is not true.
P.S. Being gay is NOT only …”when you have a dick in your ass…” as this dude states. In fact, after hearing that, I was turned off. He doesn’t speak for the gay community.
Paco
Well he is a porn performer so I am not really surprised by his comment reducing the gay identity to just sexual acts.
Just by his video alone, there were enough “tells” that I think most could pick up that he is not exactly straight.
And yes, being gay is so much more than having a dick in your ass.
I wish him a speedy recovery and hope his attackers are caught and punished.
Rock-N-RollHS
no ONE speaks for the gay community, whatever that is.
geb1966
Your self righteous attitude turns me off. Who are you to decide the truth in his story? Do you not understand hyperbole? Sarcasm? His point is they were not doing anything that would indicate they were gay, except for being themselves. Someone was attacked. Way to attack the victim.
russdog
He’s also a comedian. He was being facetious. To some phobes, the essence of your existence as a gay person is whatever sex act you perform. It’s a surprise to them that gays are real, whole people. He was saying that since most homophobes only envision gays in the act of sex, he was surprised anyone thought he was gay since he was simply being human.
Tombear
Doesn’t matter how people act or their mannerisms, nobody should be attacked period. That is why my husband and I have concealed carry permits. I would love for a gay hater to try and attack us. I wouldn’t think twice about shooting them and then I’d tell the homophobe. “Go back and tell your buddies a faggot did this to you!”
Kevan1
Paco and Rock-N-RollHS Neither of you are very exposed are you? Grow a little and learn something.
russdog
@kevan1 You know, these posts remind me of an experience I had walking out of a movie theater after watching “Gorillas in the Mist” (true story about Diane Fossey). Since it’s fact based, and 30 years old, it’s not a spoiler to say that Sigourney Weaver is hacked to death by gorilla poachers in the film. As I’m walking out, two elderly ladies behind me are having a discussion. They were confused. “Did she die?” “Well I think so.” “What happened?” “It must have been emphysema”.
Listening and comprehension skills are important to develop…no matter how long it takes.
GetOffMyInternets
People get bashed all over the world in the gay ghettos in major cities, by heterosexual bigots (or someone closeted and acting out). The only reason this made Queerty’s page, is because David has a bone for him and follows him on Instagram. What about the other people bashed and beat up daily, David that don’t make their living as sex workers? I’m sorry this happened to this guy, no one deserves it, it’s awful. But after Calum McSwiggan (that YouTuber from the UK) pulled his bullshit a few years ago with his drama at the Abbey, it’s bothersome to me when people take a histrionic stance and go on social media for likes. I’m sure this fellow will get the support he needs from friends and family, and his Amazon wish list will shrink.
All things aside, Graham and David are so myopic in their coverage. It’s amazing that a good percentage of their “news” comes from Instagram. Must be nice to go through social media all day to find a “story” and call yourself a journalist.
Rock-N-RollHS
People are murdered and attacked every day; you wouldn’t have time to digest any of it if it was all presented as news, causing it all to be ignored.
That said, these stories, if true, need to be told and people in more high-profile positions can bring attention to the issue that affects millions.
Love your point about Instagram though. So glad I don’t have an account, or Twitter, or FB! I feel almost clean. . . lol
GetOffMyInternets
It’s totally true! The “editors” troll social media accounts and a post is an actual story they print here, no matter how vapid.
Kangol
@GetOffMyInternets, this story was initially reported on PinkNews, a real LGBTQ news site in the UK. It also was reported on Towleroad, a LGBTQ US news site. It’s not news just because David or someone on Queerty loves Instagram (they do), though Wesley Woods’ attractiveness may have boosted the story in Queerty’s editors’ eyes.
You’re right that there are other gay-and-trans bashings, attacks, murders, etc., occurring in the US that don’t get reported here, some domestic, many international. This site sometimes skips over negative as well as positive news. In Lithuania, that European country’s only non-governmental LGBTQ organization was set on fire the other day. This is news that Queerty probably should cover, but for whatever reason, they haven’t yet. I guess the answer is to read multiple gay news sites if you can.
roth99
Why do we follow celebs and others or white blondes vs blacks and beautiful people vs fat or homely ones? We know that all gays are potential targets for physical attack by these hate groups. I doubt this fellow would publicize this so that the number of gay men who watch porn would view his vids and improve his marketability. I think I would rather hear and see his story than one coming from a fellow my age and 75 lbs. overweight. It is all totally unacceptable and yet it still goes on in 2018!
Billysees
I wonder if California had a ‘stand your ground’ law like Florida and it was widely known that LGBT folks may be armed with a gun, would these attacks happen then?
Goforit
Oh great idea Billy. Then even more young black men could be murdered and the killers could get off ( in more ways than one I suspect)
DCguy
In other words, a law that says the bigots can attack the gay guys, then if the gay guys punch back the bigots will shoot them then get off because of a “Stand your ground law”.
Because that’s exactly how those laws have worked.
Donston
The way he expresses himself here makes him come off in an unfortunate light, a tad historionic and maybe like he’s using this terrible thing for attention above all else. While equating “gay” to having dick up your ass is simply idiotic. He’s a sex worker, so he should know better when it comes to sexuality. Plenty of straight/hetero-leaning men like to bottom or at least don’t mind it. And plenty of dudes who have sexual passions, romantic fulfillment and emotional contentment that is same-sex or mostly same-sex don’t like anything around their booties. Also, did he not contact the police?
All that aside, this of course shouldn’t happen to anyone. And people have got to realize that there are no “safe places”, especially nowadays. The extremists and maniacs feel more empowered than they have in a long time.
Lacuevaman
butch it up a bit more…. why the hell do you go to the gym, model yourself like some hot buffed dude only to scream and piss on yourself when confronted by a bully. sad sad. his days as a top are over! you think?
Kevan1
Lacuevaman tell us how you really feel, and tell us how we should be and act. You are a bit of an A__.
You or I may handle things differently, but no one has the right to tell someone how to react when attacked. You would like to believe you would handle it differently, and so do I. Until either of us is that situation keep the judgement to yourself. I carry and would like to think I would put few rounds in someones knees and ass, but until such time I do not know how I might react. Just because you have an idea you would react one way in reality you really do not know. Goes for you to WINEMAKER.
winemaker
As for me, i carry a knife. and have no problem using it when something like this happens to me. The bastard that attacks me will rue the day he woke up that morning, pure and simple
Lacuevaman
amen dude. AMEN!!
graphicjack
Well, I just hope you aren’t attacked, because stats show that people with weapons who are attacked often have that weapon used ON THEM. An attacker has the element of surprise, so unless you see someone coming, and can get the weapon out before he gets his hands on you, and if you are also stronger than your attacker, the likelihood is he will be able to take your weapon and you’re the dude on the ground with a stab wound. What if your attacker has a gun, or a pipe or some long instrument that means he can attack you from a distance? You have to be right up to someone before you can use a knife on him and he could just as easily get the knife away from you by kicking it out of your hand or wrestling it away from you. The reality is we are safer if we don’t have a weapon on us. It’s a better safety practice to be alert and don’t travel alone in places that might be dangerous. If someone wants to cause you harm, the odds are always in his favour because almost always you will be caught off guard.
PollyDarton
Hmmm… this doesn’t pass the smell test. Something is fishy here.
Lacuevaman
Just take you ass-whipping and get back on the porch. If you can’t defend yourself and have to go to the press for comfort…. you aint a REAL man. How unattractive……!
Kevan1
And you are? Not from this side of the fence. You sound like a bully.
Tombear
My husband and I both have concealed carry permits. When we go out in public at night at least one of us is armed. We both served over 20 years in the Marine corps and will not take any homophobic shit from anyone.
Tombear
The only solution for a gay basher with a fist is a gay man or woman with a gun.
Vince
Funny how you never hear stories about them going into black neighborhood looking for victims. They know they’d never make it out alive. They go into gay neighborhoods because they think of gay men as sissies who won’t defend themselves. Soft targets.
I’m still waiting for the Bernhard Goetz story. I’d even have no problem with them getting shot in the back just to be sure.
rray63
Does anyone else have a problem with social media being the way we handle things like this now? I’ve watched social media become the arbiter of justice. We no longer tell the police (not that they are a great resource), nor is a case brought by the DA, or a trial in front of a jury of our peers, with a verdict and a sentence handed down by a judge, (again, not the greatest resources but it’s all we have). No, now we bring the case, try it, convict and sentence right here in our local social media platform, how sad. Again, does anyone else have a problem with this way of doing things?