A group, including two gay soldiers from Fort Carson, a United States Army installation located near Colorado Springs, were attacked in a possible hate crime early Saturday morning.
According to police, one suspect took exception to how one of the victims was dressed and started calling him “faggot.” The verbal attack escalated into a physical fight, leaving at least one victim with severe facial fractures.
Watch the report here from KOAA-TV:
Outserve has released this statement:
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“We’re concerned that these soldiers may not get the support they need because of the ongoing impact of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” said “JD Smith,” OutServe’s active-duty co-director, who is identified by a pseudonym while “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” is still in effect. “Will they be investigated for reporting the crime? Or for seeking medical help? These soldiers will have to literally lie at work to hide what’s occurred to them.”
“We don’t know the all the details yet, but it does appear that these guys were assaulted because they were believed to be gay. The simple fact is, no one should have to worry about being beaten for who they are, especially not someone who has put their life on the line to defend this country,” said OutServe spokesperson and combat vet Jonathan Hopkins. “We look forward to a full investigation of the facts and, if warranted, prosecution under Hate Crimes legislation.”
The suspects are described by witnesses and victims as 5 black males and 2 black females.