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A same-sex couple walking hand-in-hand from a Manhattan movie theater have been viciously attacked by six men hurling anti-gay slurs at them.
It was reported, police on Wednesday were searching for several men wanted in the assault, which took place around midnight Tuesday night, shortly after the couple left the Chelsea Bowtie Cinemas on 23rd Street between Seventh and Eighth avenues.
The two victims, Peter Notman and Michael Felenchak, told their side of the story to reporters, CBS 2’s Steve Langford reported.
They said they were holding hands as they turned into the Street, when they were approached by two other men who yelled anti-gay slurs, according to police. Felenchak, 27, and Notman, 53, were then attacked by two young men, as well as four others who joined in, they added.
“It was six of them against the two of us,” Notman said, “typical of the cowards they are.”
Notman and Felenchak said they were subjected to anti-gay slurs during the attack.
“They were here. They were in the middle of the street. They were like, ‘What are you looking at, you f**? Boom,” Notman told WCBS 880’s Peter Haskell.
“I ran into the lobby to try to get away from them, and then they dispersed once they saw that we were in the lobby and told the guy to call the police,” he said.
The two spent nearly the whole night in the emergency room.
“I was hit with brass knuckles down the side of my face, and I had contusions; had to have an MRI, and Michael received several stitches in his mouth where they punched us,” Notman said.
Notman and Felenchak said they were subjected to anti-gay slurs during the attack.
“They were here. They were in the middle of the street. They were like, ‘What are you looking at, you f**? Boom,” Notman told WCBS 880’s Peter Haskell.
“I ran into the lobby to try to get away from them, and then they dispersed once they saw that we were in the lobby and told the guy to call the police,” he said.
The two spent nearly the whole night in the emergency room.
“I was hit with brass knuckles down the side of my face, and I had contusions; had to have an MRI, and Michael received several stitches in his mouth where they punched us,” Notman said.
Felenchak ended up requiring a total of seven stitches.
As the two victims faced the media, their very public stand against hatred nearly moved a local politician to tears.
As the two victims faced the media, their very public stand against hatred nearly moved a local politician to tears.
“It means a lot to me as an LGBT individual that you take it upon yourselves to be here — to represent our community — at such a difficult time,” said state Sen. Brad Hoylman (D-Manhattan.)
City Council Speaker and mayoral candidate Christine Quinn also stood with the victims.
“I am appalled by reports that two men were senselessly beaten in Chelsea simply because they were perceived to be gay,” Quinn said in a statement. “The cowardly individuals who committed this crime do not represent New Yorkers and our community will not be cowed by such violence. New York City’s greatest strength is our diversity, and we will not stand for attacks against anyone, for any reason.”
The two victims said they were confident their assailants will be caught.
City Council Speaker and mayoral candidate Christine Quinn also stood with the victims.
“I am appalled by reports that two men were senselessly beaten in Chelsea simply because they were perceived to be gay,” Quinn said in a statement. “The cowardly individuals who committed this crime do not represent New Yorkers and our community will not be cowed by such violence. New York City’s greatest strength is our diversity, and we will not stand for attacks against anyone, for any reason.”
The two victims said they were confident their assailants will be caught.
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