COLUMBUS, Ohio – Columbus police are investigating a recent string of attacks on gay men as possible hate crimes.
The attacks in the past week sent the victims to local hospitals and has gay activists raising awareness of harassment in the city.
A Cincinnati-area man claims he was savagely beaten last week outside the Southbend Tavern on E. Moler Street, popular with members of the LGBT community, because he’s gay.
They say the attacks outside gay bars and in presumably “safe” neighborhoods has damaged the illusion that Columbus is gay-friendly.