It happened! Monday night I was gay bashed! I got out of the situation before it could get physical. Thankfully. Monday nights I go to the neighborhood bar to play trivia with a group of friends, I’m the only male member on the team. This night it was only 3 of us, and I forgot myself. I was having fun, laughing and giggling, feeling really good about myself. So I wasn’t paying attention to my surrounding. I say this because, as a Gay man, I know there are places where I’m not safe! I normally avoid these places. Yes, even in 2018 I know to stay out of places where gay people rarely tread. I caught the attention of 5 males who had been drinking at the bar before I arrived. I don’t know how long, but I know they were drunk. The homophobic slurs, started shortly thereafter. It got louder and louder. Screaming gay this, fag this. Not directly at me, but I KNEW! I knew it was at me, a couple of them started staring. I normally don’t even look anyone at this bar in the eyes. Ive been in these situations before, I know how they play out, normally. So I put my head down and thought, how do I want to handle this? What should I do? If I make the wrong choice someone (me) could end up dead! I was scared! Ive been attacked before, with a baseball bat and beat within an inch of my life! 120 stitches, face messed up. Not something I want to repeat. So I said, I must leave. I need to get out, discreetly and quietly. My friends and the rest of the bar were noticing and my friends were getting upset, not realizing these slurs were directed at me! But couldn’t figure out what was going on..... Luckily the fools went outside for a smoke, and they decided to go home! Of the 5, 1 is a regular Monday nighter, he stayed . I can’t tel you how upsetting this was to me. Not only was I afraid for. My life . I was upset that this happened at all! When am I going to be beyond this. I’m 52 years old, Jesus when is this going to end! When can I relax and just have fun. I wasn’t bothering anyone ! I was minding my own business. Just when you think the world has changed, bam you get an ugly reminder!
