Gay man attacked at job in American Fork
Early Thursday morning, Cameron Nelson became the third gay Utahn in less than two weeks to report being attacked because of their sexual identity.
Nelson was on the job at an American Fork hair salon when he said two or three people began beating him up and yelling anti-gay slurs at him.
The 32-year-old was taking out the garbage at the salon near Center Street and 100 North at 12:45 a.m. when the assault began. Nelson said he is gay and that he believes that was why the attackers, whom he did not know, targeted him.
Sgt. Gregg Ludlow of the American Fork Police Department called the remarks made toward Nelson "disgusting" and said the actions of Nelson’s attackers were "quite repugnant."
Nelson was taken to a hospital and treated for minor injuries and a broken nose, Ludlow said.
Police in Salt Lake City are still investigating attacks on two other gay men.
The two were attacked in separate incidents on Aug. 26. Dane Hall, 20, was assaulted by four men as he left a club. The suspects repeatedly punched Hall and stomped the side of his head. His cheekbone was shattered and he lost six teeth.
In the other assault, a group of men broke into a gay man’s apartment near 33 W. 200 South and beat up his boyfriend.
LGBT community activist Eric Ethington claims the recent attacks stem from a lack of concern among state officials.
"This is what happens when our legislature and our local government refuse to take the problems in our state seriously," Ethington said. "Violence based on sexual orientation is not acceptable."
Ethington plans on holding a rally in Salt Lake City to bring light to the attacks.
Meanwhile, Salt Lake City police are hosting a seminar at 8 p.m. Friday in Liberty Park to
educate the community on how to report crime tips anonymously.
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I'm getting really scared now. All the attacks have been on gay men so far. I'm a lesbian and still rightfully scared.