A gay couple was attacked in an apparent hate crime early Saturday morning in Austin, Texas.
Tristan Perry and Spencer Deehring were walking to their car around 2:45am after celebrating a friend’s birthday at Rain nightclub in downtown Austin.
The couple passed a man on the street who called them a homophobic slur. They told local news station KXAN they believe it was because they had been holding hands.
Deehring says he responded to the slur by saying something along the lines of “I’m sorry, I couldn’t hear you.”
At that point, Deehring says the man called out to his group of friends who were previously unseen. The mob began to follow the couple as they headed to their car.
The group began “yelling every expletive you can think of,” says Deehring, who told them, “I don’t have anything more to say to you guys, we’re just going home, leave us alone.”
And that’s when Perry was punched in the face suffering a broken nose and falling to the ground. While down, another in the group kicked Perry in the back of his head.
Deehring attempted to defend his boyfriend by tackling the men, but was knocked unconscious after being punched by members of the mob.
A bystander walking by may have saved their lives as the attackers fled upon being seen. The bystander called 911 and waited with the men until police and an ambulance arrived. Both men were hospitalized.
Perry was treated for a cut on the back of his head, a broken nose, chipped teeth, and multiple bruises. He continues to experience memory lapses.
Deehring suffered several lacerations, bruises to the back of his neck and head, and swelling to his jaw and mouth.
The president of the Austin chapter of PFLAG, Anna Nguyen, told KXAN that while she has seen violence targeting LGBTQ people in Austin in the past, “It feels as if lately the frequency has ratched up quite a bit.”
“I think Austin as a community needs to step up its game and prove it’s one of the most LGBTQIA-friendly cities in the country by deed, and not just by words,” she added.
Statistics released last November by the FBI show an increase of LGBT-related hate crimes in Texas when comparing data from 2016 to 2017.
The couple has launched a GoFundMe campaign to help defray the medical costs.
On the GoFundMe page, after explaining the attack that landed them in the hospital, they write:
Today I ask for your help with the burden we have been given of medical expenses related to this experience. Both of us were transported in an ambulance and given emergency trauma care at a local hospital. Due to this we expect our bills to exceed the thousands of dollars due to receiving comprehensive radiological care. And we ask for your love and support during our difficult time. Any help you can give is immensely appreciated. Always spread love and positivity. End hate.
They also shared their story on Facebook wanting people to realize attacks like this can happen to anyone.
Additionally, as a result of sharing the news of the attack, Deehring came out to his family and loved ones.
Grateful for the support they’ve received since the attack, the couple say they have a message for others.
"Spread love, end all this hatred, end all this closed-mindedness always watch your surroundings, always be aware of your surroundings, don't walk alone," says Perry.
And Deehring adds, “Be aware of your surroundings, but don't change who you are as a person, don't ever change who you are as a person and don't be afraid to go out there and explore the world, just as you are.”
Watch the report from KXAN below:
Gerald, a pretty girl in a
Gerald, a pretty girl in a SEXY dress IS asking to be “raped”………. in a way – because a pretty girl in a sexy dress is asking for SEX. Or at least asking for others to desire to have sex with her. So… While she may not be asking to be raped, she IS subject to it if the guys who respond for her invite to sex are rejected by her, or if the guys who want to have sex with her based on her invitation believe they will be rejected. Not saying all guys are like this, but many are, or many become this way – many guys who have raped believed they would have never have done such a thing, but they felt “overtaken” by sexual urge due to the way the pretty female was dressed, and the fact they were “alone”. Basically, NOT A GOOD ANALOGY BY YOU….. HOWEVER, James K was only open to the possibility that we do not know the whole story – all we “know” is what the couple has allegedly said, and the fact they look beat up. James K has a very good point though.. Here in San Francisco I’ve observed plenty of obnoxious “gays” who are practically begging for a beat down. And yes, many “gays” like to be “manly bitches” or “bitchey men” and say provoking stuff back to verbal attackers, which leads to violence often times. Think of it like this.. We KNOW that lions are predators. Which means we KNOW that if we say or do anything to a lion that has spotted us, rather than get the f**k outta there, the chance of the lion attacking us pretty much becomes guaranteed….. As with PEOPLE who are predators. If we KNOW someone is treating us like prey, we need to get the f**k outta there! Hence, why do most people put on their best behavior when approached by a cop? Because we KNOW they are predators! Even while on the ground getting beat, many victims will be like “But I’m already on the ground SIR!” Why the f**k call the predator who is atttacking you “sir”? Because there is still the chance they won’t kill you. And this is how we need to treat ALL predators – but BEFORE they physically attack us… “Yes SIR, we ARE gay.” And GET THE F**K OUTTA THERE!” We can’t change the behavior of predators, but we can sure as f**k change our own!
So they have a group of men
So they have a group of men hiding in the shadows waiting to be summoned by an instigator who called them homophobic slurs and you question whether two guys brought on an attack by a group? You are part of the problem.
I feel bad this happened but
I feel bad this happened but is there more to the story. I felt so Safe in Austin but I did notice the Austin locals like many gays in urban cities like to clap back at people and be loud and obnoxious. Hopefully this not the case but if any update happen please post.
for James K to imply that the
for James K to imply that the gay couple were somewhat responsible for the attack because they said something back to the homophobic thug is so misconstrued and harmful. It's like saying a pretty girl in a sexy dress is asking to be raped. So ignorant!
sad to think that James
sad to think that James thinks this is the couples fault. This is brought on by this bigoted racist climate that the trump administration is feeding. So now LGBT community will have more crimes like this.
Be safe and aware while walking around late. When people follow walk to a crowd and call police.
So sad to hear this couple was attacked.