BY NATASHA BARSOTTI — New York police are reportedly investigating an attack on a gay man as a possible hate crime after he was targeted with homophobic slurs and beaten on the subway Feb 18.
According to a report in the New York Daily News, a woman took a photo of Urena Morel Frankelly, 23, and his partner while they were eating on the train, while another woman called them names.
One of the women allegedly told Frankelly, “Feed your face, faggot,” when he asked about the photo.
A Gay Star News report says the exchange escalated, and the two women, joined by four other persons, allegedly attacked Frankelly, repeatedly punching him as his partner tried to intervene.
Frankelly suffered cuts to his face and his eye was swollen shut; his partner was not harmed in the attack, the New York Post says.
No arrests have been made. The NYPD’s Hate Crimes Task Force is looking into the incident, the Daily News notes.
The incident follows another confrontation last weekend — that remained verbal — between two passengers on the subway. As one passenger described in news reports, as a preacher loudly objected to homosexuality, another who said he was gay called the preacher a “false prophet.”
“I’m a good man, and I’m a gay man, and Jesus loves me,” he said to the applause of others on the train.
Watch a video of the incident:
Landing image: New York Daily News
Why you can trust Xtra
