HIV activist attacked for being gay speaks out

A Valley HIV activist believes he was attacked for being gay. Now two men are facing charges in connection with that attack, which happened in the early morning hours of Friday, Nov. 9.
Austin Head said he and a friend were walking home from Charlie’s, a popular LGBT hangout. When the pair hit Central Avenue and Osborn Road, two men started yelling homophobic slurs at them. According to Head, it didn’t stop there. He said the two men crossed the street and attacked him and his friend.
“They just assumed that we were gay and targeted us and were pretty violent with it,” Head said as he removed dark sunglasses to reveal the bumps, bruises and cuts around his left eye.
Head was knocked unconscious during the attack, but said he refuses to hide from the men who beat him up.
“No, I won’t be changing anything because of these two people who happen not to like my [sexual] orientation.”