It was a typical summer evening in Provincetown: the breeze was salty, the vibes were high, and somewhere on Commercial Street, a drag queen was probably doing a death drop in heels. Tourists were juggling soft-serve and shopping bags. The soundtrack? Donna Summer, obviously. Then—like a record scratch you didn’t ask for—a car tore through town, and suddenly the air was filled with slurs, air horns, and a whole lot of ugliness.
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Welcome to the July 1 incident that has locals and visitors shaking their heads, clutching their pearls, and calling for real consequences.
Meet the Accused
The ringleaders (allegedly) are Ryan Mahimtura of Framingham, Henry Ward of Hudson, and an unnamed minor also from Hudson. All three are facing two counts of disorderly conduct, and according to Provincetown police, that may just be the start.
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If convicted, they’ll have the honor of being remembered not for their summer glow-up or lobster rolls, but for driving through one of America’s most LGBTQ+-friendly towns yelling slurs like it’s 1952.
A Pattern, Not an Episode
What’s more chilling than a car full of teens weaponizing air horns? The fact that this isn’t an isolated incident.
Just one day earlier, on June 30, Chris Kostka—a local and beloved member of the community—was walking home from a friend’s when a black Lexus pulled up on Bradford Street near Howland. Three white men in their 20s or 30s jumped out and beat him.
“They used a homophobic slur during the attack,” police reported.
“I’m fine, but everyone, always stay vigilant,” Kostka said in a video posted on social media. “You never know what can happen, no matter where you are. Like, I’m in P-town, and this happened.”
Kostka’s statement has become a rallying cry in town. P-town is supposed to be a sanctuary, a sliver of glittery safety in an increasingly hostile national climate. That a hate-fueled attack could happen here is both heartbreaking and galvanizing.
The Town Responds: Unity With A Side of Sass
“These events are disturbing, and we share the fear and discomfort they are causing in our community,” said Town Manager Alex Morse. “The Town and the Provincetown Police Department are taking these incidents very seriously and are actively investigating.”
And they are. Town leaders held a community safety forum this week, drawing residents and visitors together in a show of unity stronger than any air horn. They shared safety tips, took questions, and made one thing absolutely clear: this is not a town that tolerates hate.
“Over the last several days, we haven’t let this series of events dim the light in Provincetown,” Morse said. “I’ve seen a lot of joy in the last few days, and I think it’s important that despite what we’re up against with the national dialogue and the demonization of vulnerable groups, that we’re still able to smile and to laugh and enjoy each other’s company.”
The town is also exploring whether civil rights and hate crime charges are appropriate.
And while the legal system works its way through all the air-horn blaring nonsense, Provincetown remains what it has always been: fiercely queer, deeply resilient, and unwilling to let a handful of bigots steal the show.
As one resident told town leaders at the forum: “All I have to say to the town manager, to the chief and your team is thank you for demonstrating that our lives matter.”
Because in Provincetown, darling, the only thing louder than hate is love—and maybe the occasional whistle from a shirtless drag performer on a bike.
Take a baseball bat to these homophobic hate-filled creeps and to the next couple of monsters who come through trying to hurt and intimidate queers, and they’ll get the message.
Hearing about this has really pissed me off! 😾
With the Trumpanzee in the Oval Office, and his personal pose of recently pardoned vigilantes roaming free, we must all stay aware of our surroundings at all times. Everybody carry mace or pepper spray, to our glamorous drag contingent put a brick in your purse, never walk alone at night, and if any of us encounters any of these fascist thugs, it’s high time that we beat the shit out of them. Then, they can go home and tell their friends that they got their ass kicked by a fag! 😸
I am so sad and angered to hear this. These men have become emboldened by the great orange beastie. They feel they can now go anywhere and spew ignorance and hated. They need to be taught a strong lesson that sends a message throughout Massachusetts if not the US!
an ally from Colorado
Damn I wish I’d been there. I would have scratched their eyes out.
The Police certainly did not care when an disabled woman was attacked at the Mary Heaton Vorse House who knew the person she was talking to and was ridiculed by the attacker on Provincetown’s radio show. See you in court!
This article is much too light and airy. The tone needs much more outrage. It is very disappointing. At a time when our community is under siege nationally, egged on by the Fascists running our national government, we need to be very upset and prepared to fight for our lives.
Exactly, its not humorous
Agree
Love conquers hate…
Magarats have been empowered by the orange 🍊 glow in the WH. . .in time hopefully this will pass
I truly believe this behavior is a direct result of Trump…he gave a license to America’s ignorant to continue to be. I feel terrible for P Town residents and tourists alike.
Definitely!!!
Now Trump is responsible for homophonic attacks? I don’t think so. He supports this community and other gay people support him. He just draws the line on sexual identify as it interferes with what is esrablished as it relates to common sense. No trans men in women bathrooms etc…
However I will say this. Get your community in order. Often times and you can see it all over social media, this community continuously ruins its reputation through lascivious behavior and public sex acts seen at parties and carnivals and public parks. Keep your business in-doors..it’s time for others to take your community seriously. Violence is never justified. But living in a gay community, I often find their public display more sexual and offensive. There are other ways to get attention. And you don’t win any points making sweeping comments like this one.
He supports this community? What kind of orange mugwamp jism have you been swallowing?!?
He hates us, hates POC, hates everyone… except himself and his daughter who he would screw if he could.
Trump may not be directly responsible for homophobic attacks but his hatred has spurred others to express and act on their hatred’s.
The Trumpanzee & his Magapotamian hoard have never supported the LGBTQIA community. He is a stooge of Putin, a racist, misogynistic, homophobic, fascist, wannabe dictator.
Every morning he wakes up, he tries to find another thing he can do to destroy America & its general population.
Let’s release the House & the Senate from the grip of the MAGAts, so we may start rebuilding our trust in the world.
That’s BS! When one party member is attacked, WE ALL roll initiative. The fat Nazi doesn’t get to draw the line ANYWHERE. Can’t remove the T from LGBTQ+; nobody puts Baby in the corner. This is a DIRECT RESULT of Trump’s bigotry
I agree with you, he made it legal to beat us up, we are going backwards now!
I agree. I’ve been to P Town. So much fun. I grew up (I’m 79) with a gay aunt. I still can’t believe he won the election. (Maybe he didn’t). He may be POTUS, but he is NOT MY PRESIDENT.
Don’t understand why closed minded people would ever go to Provincetown. Hope they learn their lesson keep their mouth shut stay at home.
This administration has made these hateful people think it is ok to scream their hate. I know it has been there forever and experienced it myself many times but it seems these bigots think nothing is going to happen to them.
I hope the Ptown police throw all the charges they can and the prosecutors should go at them with all they have. I am 72 years old and for a brief moment in my life I thought I saw the light shine through. I now feel the darkness is being brought back on us, I am very sad ❤️🙏🙁
Same…
Thought we were heading in the right direction and was full of hope for a bright future… with people who cared about their neighbors and wanted to take care of the planet they stood on. Crushing.to realize how wrong I was.
Lock the scum up. Forever. They are not redeemable. Nice parents too 🤬
TIE THEM UP OVERNIGHT AT THR MEAT RACK.
I think they should be forced to do community service in Provincetown picking up trash, wearing an orange jumpsuit that has painted in black “I’m sorry for being an immature asshole. I will learn to appreciate ALL human beings. And make them write a formal letter to the people in Provincetown, apologizing for their behavior and publish it online. Teach them what humility is.
What’ll then find is that Provincetown will be very forgiving and treat them like human beings back again. Especially the drag queens. Miss Richfield will teach them a lesson about social behavior and Integrity. ♥️ I LOVE P-TOWN ♥️
Come on Judge. This could be a life-changing moment for a few people. Shake these bullies up, not with jail,(they can handle that), but with reality consequences. Again, teach them what humility is. Teach them Respect for themselves and others.
Yes that’s a great idea.
Well, what does one expect when we now have neo-nazis marching in our own country? We have privite schools teaching hate while calling themselves “Christians”, we have churches wanting the government to execute gay people. Seriously, this current administration has started all of this. I feel it’s always been there, but now it seems very trendy to start hating minorities again.
Let ’em try that shit during Bear Week and see what happens. FAFO
word
Really make an example of these guys behavior and throw the book at them….let’s not wait for another group that will not only shout homophobic slurs but possibly use firing arms And cause mass destruction
Truly these boys are deep in the closet to have such extreme hate.
Get the biggest and sharpest men out in the streets walking and these puny white boys will never step afoot in P-town again!
When is Bear Week?
As my eyes fill with tears my heart is filled with pride.
I should have been a yearrounder