Tom Anderson of Taunton, Massachusetts thought he would celebrate the end of pride month by hanging the pride flag in his yard. He didn’t expect that displaying the flag would lead to a violent assault by a stranger.
Boston 25 News reports the attack happened in the closing days of June. “We had put the flag up maybe an hour beforehand, it was Pride month,” Anderson recalls.
As he continued to work around his yard, Anderson says an unidentified man stopped and got out of his car, walked over, and began beating him on the spot. The attacker swore at him, called him names and began punching him in the face. The blows to the face knocked out Anderson’s two front teeth, and left him with gashes that required stitches.
Related: A gay man was stabbed and beaten by a Jeffrey Dahmer fan. Police say it’s not a hate crime.
“I was kind of in a state of disbelief, like really, I’m in my own yard,” Anderson says.
“I saw the guy just come up and yell those nasty words at my husband and then hit him two or three times and then took off back into his car and screeched away,” said Jacob Anderson, Tom’s husband. “It’s definitely a hate crime just based on the words he used.”
Fortunately, another passer-by stopped to help Anderson, and also took a description of the suspect and his car. Police continue to investigate the crime, but have not publicly charged or named any suspects.
“I’m more worried about him getting away with it and thinking ‘okay this is okay to do,” Tom Anderson says of the attack. He and Jacob also say they’ve experienced an outpouring of support from the community in the wake of the attack. One neighbor even gifted the couple a home security system.
Moreover, Anderson says that the attack will not stop him from displaying the Pride Flag. “I want to just keep it up all year long now,” he says.
Chrisk
I have zero doubt that the attacker is an angry and closeted gay guy. Fits the profile like a glove.
Personally I would’ve chased after the asshole or at the very least made damn sure I had the license plate #.
KerryB
And, no doubt, a tRump supporter. He probably calls himself a christian too.
Invader7
The NeoNAZI Agolf Twitterler follower deserves to be shot in the dick .
stanhope
Let this be a lesson yet again, we are still not safe. I’ll let others turn the other cheek but in present day trump america, i prefer a baseball bat. If you come on to my property with attack on your mind, your next destination will be hell’s gate.
whateverokok
Violence begets violence. If people act the way their attackers do they are no better than their attackers. By all means defend yourself, but to a point. A baseball bat is not necessary.