Man suffers broken leg in anti-gay attack

The Baltimore Inner Harbor from Federal Hill. (Wikimedia photo by Kathleen Conklin)

A 36-year-old West Baltimore gay man was attacked by at least two men at North and Druid Hill Avenues, according to police. The victim, whose first name is Paul and who requested that his last name not be used at this time, was walking to a store after finishing classes at Baltimore City Community College.

At approximately 7:30 p.m. on March 28 he encountered a group of young men. Some had called him “faggot” as he was approaching, and to avoid a confrontation, Paul crossed the street.  Soon afterwards, at least two men assaulted him from behind, calling him “faggot” throughout the attack. The victim suffered a broken leg and was treated at Shock Trauma.

Paul told the Blade that he is not “flamboyant” but his being gay was fairly well known in the neighborhood. He added that he could have been targeted because one of the assailants also called him a “snitch,” which may have stemmed from a previous incident involving drugs.

No arrests have been made and the case remains under investigation, according to Baltimore Police spokesperson Sgt. Valencia Knox.