Max Pelofske, a 21-year-old gay
Minnesotan man, says a group of men assaulted him after he was asked
if he is gay.
Pelofske of Duluth told the Duluth
News
Tribune that the incident occurred at a graduation party held
at an abandoned gravel pit and attended by roughly 50 people.
Within 5 minutes of arriving at the
party with his friend, Kelly Johnson, he was asked by a young man his
sexual orientation.
“He told me to look him in the eyes,
and I was really confused because I'd never seen the guy before,”
he said. “He asked me, 'Are you gay?' And I said, 'Yes. Is that
OK?'”
Pelofske said he was struck in the head
by a flying beer can and that a group of at least 9 young men joined
in kicking and punching him.
“I tried to get up, but I kept
getting knocked back down,” he said, then added: “They were
trying to throw me into the fire.”
He said the beating lasted anywhere
from 5 to 10 minutes before he managed to escape and call for help.
At least one person attending the party
accused Pelofske of instigating the altercation by stealing drinks
from people.
Johnson, however, backed up Pelofske's
version of events.
Police have arrested two men – ages
18 and 19 – who have yet to be charged.
Pelofske, who initially refused
treatment because he does not have health insurance, said his ribs
are bruised and his face is swollen.