July 2, 2011
Anti-Gay Assault in Astoria?
Michael K. Lavers READ TIME: 2 MIN.
A Queens man said a man punched him and used an anti-gay epithet against him while he was walking on 36th Avenue in Astoria on Thursday, June 30.
Chap James Day told EDGE he was on the phone with his partner shortly after 6 p.m. when the man walked up from behind and punched him in the back. Day said the man called him a "faggot" during the alleged assault.
"When I realized what happened, I was in shock," he told EDGE.
After the alleged incident, Day said he followed the man into a nearby corner store. He said the clerk refused to intervene, and Day added both the clerk and his alleged attacker actually joked about what he said had just happened.
Day said the man once again began calling him a "faggot" once he realized he had called the police. Day said the man bought two beers-and Day's partner, Michael Mallon, an aide to gay City Councilmember Daniel Dromm [D-Jackson Heights], said the alleged assailant once again used an anti-gay epithet against Day as he left the store.
"Next time stay out of my way you faggot," said the man, according to Mallon.
Day told EDGE he was not injured during the alleged incident, which he said took place less than two blocks from his and Mallon's apartment. Day said he remains shaken up.
"You don't expect it-especially when you're on the telephone talking about what you are going to have for dinner," he said.
Day said he reported the incident to the 14th Precinct, but an NYPD spokesperson could not immediately provide details of the alleged assault to EDGE.
Mallon described the clerk's alleged refusal to intervene on behalf of his partner as "the most egregious thing." He added he hopes the alleged incident is not an indication of any backlash over the passage of the marriage equality bill in Albany late last month.
"I really don't want to see a string of violent hate crimes happening around the city or the state," said Mallon. "It's really scary. A lot of people are caught up in the euphoria of the marriage bill passing, and this is sort of the dark side of that. People who are bigots and homophobes are going to be more reactionary."
Based in Washington, D.C., Michael K. Lavers has appeared in the New York Times, BBC, WNYC, Huffington Post, Village Voice, Advocate and other mainstream and LGBT media outlets. He is an unapologetic political junkie who thoroughly enjoys living inside the Beltway.
