Tragedy struck at Detroit’s Motor City Pride last week when a 20-year-old gay man was beaten by a mob of men spouting homophobic slurs just a few blocks away from the parade.
According to WXYZ, A Michigan-based ABC affiliate, hairstylist Christin Howard was attacked Sunday along Detroit’s Riverwalk, which is situated near Hart Plaza, where the Pride celebration was taking place. This marks the first time an attack has happened at the Pride festival in its 43-year history.
Howard says that he was taking a photo with a friend when a group of five to eight young men circled him and commenting on his long hair and making homophobic comments.
“Then somebody said they had a gun,” said Howard.
The young men then begin beating him to the ground as bystanders recorded the incident on their phones.
Howard only suffered a bloodied eye, a broken finger and few lacerations. However, he can’t cut and style hair until his hand heals and he says he hasn’t slept since Sunday.
“I thought I was gonna die,” he shared. “At one point, I thought they were going to kill me.”
Howard even says he’s unsure if he’ll return to the Pride festival next year.
“Will I go back to Pride? I’m kind of iffy about it right now, because I don’t want that incident to happen again. What if the same guys are there?” he said.
Detroit police are still investigating the incident as a crime and, for now, none of the assailants have been arrested. Detroit police are urging anyone with information about the attack to contact the DPD at 313-267-4600. – nicholas robinson
