attacked for talking, attacked for being

i came across the news article below in another blog. i usually have my daily dose of laughs from entertainment blogs, but today is different. there is nothing funny about a gay person being beat simply for talking. TALKING about gay marriage. it's sad that the suspect had so much anger and hate in his heart to get up, interrupt a conversation (that doesn't involve him), and resort to violence. and for what? his name in headlines? did he wake up on the wrong side of the bed and decided it's a decent day for some gay bashing. people talk about the great strides that have been made when it comes to ending discrimination and violence against gays and people of color. sadly, there is a reality that we're still walking over thin ice.

Debate over gay marriage turns violent
Tosa police seek suspect who beat two people at restaurant
By Janice Kayser
Sept. 25, 2006

A debate at a George Webb’s restaurant over the right of gays to get married turned violent Sunday after a 29-year-old Greenfield man beat a man and a woman, threw chairs in the restaurant and threatened to shoot someone, police said.

The incident occurred at 3:39 a.m. at the restaurant at 6108 W. Blue Mound Road

According to Wauwatosa police:

One of the victims, a 26-year-old Milwaukee woman, was sitting at the counter with a girlfriend when the two women started talking with a nearby man about the same-sex marriage amendment that will be on the November ballot.

Other customers started to join in the impromptu debate, which turned to a discussion on homosexuality. As the discussion became more heated, a 29-year-old Greenfield man moved from the corner of the restaurant, where he had been seated, to sit closer to the conversation. He started to argue with the group and became very angry, then punched the 26-year-old Milwaukee woman in the face, knocking her to the ground.

A 24-year-old Milwaukee man seated nearby stood up to defend the woman and was repeatedly punched in the face by the suspect. The fight continued throughout the restaurant, with the suspect yelling, throwing chairs at the victims, and punching the man and woman in the head. As he was leaving the restaurant, the suspect made a comment that he was going to shoot someone.

Believing he would return with a gun, restaurant employees quickly locked the doors. However, when another customer left the restaurant, the doors were briefly unlocked, and the suspect returned and again attacked the man. The suspect then fled in his car. Witnesses were able to get a license plate and vehicle description, which is how police determined the man’s identity.

When police arrived, they found both the man and woman bleeding with injuries to their heads and facial areas. Both declined to be taken to the hospital. Wauwatosa police are continuing to look for the suspect.