A couple claims they were beaten in
Asheville, North Carolina because they are gay.
Mark Little and Dustin Martin of
Charlotte told local CBS affiliate WBTV that they were verbally
harassed by people inside a passing car as they walked down a street
in Asheville, considered one of the state's most gay friendly cities.
When the couple asked the people to
stop, one of the passengers got out of the car and attacked the men,
beating them on the street.
Little said he questioned whether
police officers responding to their call took the crime seriously.
“I feel like that when the cop first
came on the scene he just felt like it was just an ordinary crime,”
he said. “But what had happened is we were hit just because we
were gay.” (A video report is embedded on this page. Visit
our video library for more videos.)
The perpetrators face a simple assault
charge since North Carolina does not have a hate crimes law, WBTV
reported.
The attack comes just months after
voters approved a constitutional amendment which forbids recognition
of gay relationships with marriage, civil unions and possibly even
domestic partnerships.