Long Beach rally denounces attacks on gay men

About 200 people gathered in a park Thursday evening, not far from where three alleged assaults against gay men have taken place in the last two weeks. One of the incidents is being investigated as a hate crime. Long Beach police are looking into whether homophobia contributed to the other two incidents.

Councilwoman Suja Lowenthal told the crowd, "Whether they are legally defined as hate crimes or not, they are a crime and an assault against each and every one of us. We will not let those acts define this city."

Several large rainbow flags, a long-standing symbol of the gay and lesbian community, fluttered in the lazy breeze. Other people held homemade signs that read "Love One Another," "Be Free" and "Bullying Destroys Lives."

The event was organized by The Center, a gay and lesbian social service agency based in Long Beach. The group invited city elected officials to address the gathering, which was moved from a nearby coffee shop to the park because of a larger-than-expected turnout.

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Eric Avila said he was nervous as he prepared to address the crowd. He said he was still shaken by what he witnessed on July 24. After going to a nearby bar with four friends, Avila saw a man yell anti-gay slurs and punch his friend Martin Daniel so hard that the blow knocked teeth out and left his mouth bloodied. Right after the assault Avila and a friend chased and helped police arrest the suspect.

"I think the true heroes today are actually all of you, the community members that came out to support our issue today along with the staff of the city, city council, mayor, police department," Avila told the crowd from behind a podium.

Police don't believe the three assaults are related. The incidents have created a stir in the tight-knit Long Beach gay and lesbian community. People call the area where the assaults took place the "gay ghetto" because there are so many gay-friendly businesses and because many gays and lesbians live within a few blocks.

That's made the violence all the more surprising. Officials at The Center say they'll step up a previously planned hate crime awareness campaign reaching out to neighborhood and religious groups.

Mike Lektorich lives in nearby Belmont Shore and said he attended the event because he's gay and he wanted to stand in solidarity against hate crimes in the city. He liked the speeches and large turnout, but he said the true impact is the web of conversations that result from this gathering. "It might inspire the people that attended to talk to people and I think that's what really will cause change, for people to become aware and to talk to their friends."