Two gay men attacked by gang in possible hate crime in Immokalee

[w8liftinglady]

http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2011/sep/29/two-gay-men-attacked-gang-possible-hate-crime-immo/

Manuel Galan has not left his Immokalee home in a week.

The 27-year-old fears being attacked for his sexual orientation. Galan is gay.

“I’m scared to walk out the front door,” Galan said. “In case someone sees me, alone, they can do more damage.”

Galan and his friend, Cirildo Soliz, were jumped by five males last week, according to a Collier County sheriff’s incident report. The two were walking together on Carson Road near Eden Avenue in Immokalee. The Sheriff’s Office is calling it a possible hate crime.

“It was right in the middle of the street,” Galan said. “People were walking all around us. No one stopped. No one did anything. It hurts me, I knew some of the people.”

Both Galan and Soliz, 21, are openly gay but are just good friends, Galan said. They have lived in Immokalee for almost their entire lives and had been called names before. This was the first time verbal attacks got physical, they said.

The attackers whaled with fists and feet on Galan’s and Soliz’ faces, ribs and limbs and repeatedly yelled derogatory names for gay people, the report said. Galan and Soliz refused medical treatment after the beating.

“I don’t hate who I am. I like who I am. I don’t hide my life,” Galan said. “They just don’t like gay people, so they attacked us.”

Galan, who has been open about his sexuality for 10 years, said he is friends with some of the attackers’ mothers, and that’s how he knows them.

[xchrom]

1. Fuck. Nt

[William769]

2. Back in the early 80's I worked at the prison just outside of Immokalee.

It's a migrant town. I used to love to eat at the Local eateries but I was more in the closet in this town than I was at the prison.

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