New York Police are investigating a violent attack on Sunday against a gay couple by a group of men as a possible hate crime.
Nick Porto, 28, and Kevin Atkins, 22, were strolling down Eighth Avenue arm-in-arm near Madison Square Garden where the Indiana Pacers were playing the New York Knicks. Between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m., a group of four men in Knicks jerseys began verbally assaulting the couple.
“They called us faggots,” Porto told DNAInfo from Atkins’ home in the Bed-Stuy area of Brooklyn. “They made fun of my jeans,” Porto, a clothing designer, added. “I made the jeans myself, for that day.”
Porto turned to ask the men why they were harassing them and that’s when he claims the men jumped him and Atkins. Porto suffered a broken nose and Atkins was fitted for a cast for an injured right hand.
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“I’m so upset — it’s my fault, I spoke back to them — that Kevin was hit,” Porto said. “He didn’t deserve it whatsoever.”
The men fled before cops arrived, but the NYPD has released a surveillance video of eight men they are seeking to question in relation to the incident. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (800)-577-TIPS, log on at nypdcrimestoppers.com or text tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then entering TIP577. All calls are strictly confidential.
For Atkins, the attack has left him unable to do his job, which requires a lot of typing, but Porto remains traumatized and no longer feels safe as a gay man in New York.
“I’ve never had a feeling like this before in the city,” he said. “I didn’t know that it’s not over, that this sort of stuff still happen…I was so naive to think that things were better here.”
Photo: DNAinfo
Ferris8
Homemade jeans? Could we have pictures?
bledoutcolor
@Ferris8: Really? That’s what you take from this story? -.-
Kieran
“I’m so upset—it’s my fault, I spoke back to them.”
That sounds like the 1920s mentality of an Uncle Tom Negro from the South.
alterego1980
This is obviously a horrible thing that happened, but people should really take their heads out of the sand. I’m not blaming them for what happened but you need to learn to recognize a dangerous situation and protect yourself. Start by not feeding the hate by talking back to people like that. Ignore them and move to a crowded area. Sadly, this can and does happen anywhere, NYC, LA, Amsterdam, it doesn’t matter. I know from personal experience. Don’t be so Naive. Getting out of NYC will not solve anything.
balehead
No they spoke first accusing them of being on steroids for having muscles..lots of gays now talk smack out loud if the straight guy is good looking….no big surpise this happens…
balehead
Alot of “GMS” out there (gay man scorned)….
C. Michael
@alterego1980: I read on another blog that this happened in the middle of the day, out in the open, with dozens of people watching and doing nothing to help the two men. If you don’t feel safe in NYC with many people nearby then where can you feel safe?
Teleny
This shows our struggle is still far from over and our community will need to be vigilant. I hope they catch these men and they do some time.
DarSco
I agree with@Kieran:
Dakotahgeo
I have no problem with 3 times the number of hidden security cams in any city any more. Keep the streets clean and the jail cells full… preferably 100 inmates to a cell built for 30. That should take care of any breathing problems and promote cooperation among the ‘mates!!
tdx3fan
Things are better in NYC than they are elsewhere, but (and I know I will be flamed for this) we as gay men need to be even more cautious are our rights advance. It will hit a sore spot with a great deal of people, and many of them will look for ways to get back at us. Hate groups go on the rise when minorities get rights.
The being said (and again I know this will be flame worthy), why would you stroll down the road arm in arm with a guy after a sporting event (or anywhere else in public) and then when you are confronted speak back to your confronter? That is just asking for trouble no matter where you are. We are not to the point where we, as a nation, are willing to accept LGBT in (to use a very old inappropriate term) in our face. Sad, but true!
tdx3fan
@Kieran: That it does, but it also sounds like the truth. If you are willing to always take a stand for your rights then do not be to surprised when you get knocked down in the process.
tdx3fan
@C. Michael: In a city that allows you to actually defend yourself!?! There is a reason that stuff like this does not actually happen in small towns as much as you think it should. Because gay men in small towns are not afraid to arm themselves and to shoot someone trying to attack them.
ait10101
@tdx3fan: Yeh right. And they shoot you first and it goes down in the self-defense with a gun statistics.