GLAAD Commends Brandon White for Telling His Story

See also our blog post from earlier this week: GLAAD and NCAVP stand with Atlanta LGBT Community to Condemn Atlanta Anti-Gay Beating

At a press conference this morning, Brandon White, an openly gay 20-year-old man who was brutally beaten on the street in a southwest Atlanta neighborhood, spoke out about his attack.

White was leaving a convenient store on February 4 when the attack occurred. His attackers, who punched and kicked White to the ground while yelling anti-gay slurs, recorded the incident and posted a video online. The unidentified men are allegedly part of a local gang called Pittsburg Jack City, named for the neighborhood in which they reside.

White bravely came forward about the incident, telling reporters, “I feel that I was very violated. I thought that … if a straight person could walk to the store and not have a problem I should be able to do the same thing. I shouldn't have to worry about whether or not I should have to look over my shoulder or if this person is going to attack me or that person is going attack me for just being a gay male.” Before the attack, White said he never felt unsafe in his neighborhood, but felt her should come forward now that the public was aware of this violent act.

Mayor Kasim Reed has offered a $10,000 reward for anyone who leads to the arrest of the alleged attackers, having doubled it from $5,000 yesterday.

GLAAD is continuing to work with advocates from the Atlanta community to make sure this story is properly framed in the media. GLAAD will continue to monitor coverage of this story.