Gay Bashing Update

I blogged back in January about a group of Yale Chorus members that were attacked by a group of gay-bashing thugs after leaving a party where they had performed. Finally, charges are being filed:

(San Francisco, California) San Francisco police have issued arrest warrants for two men accused of a New Year's Eve attack on members of an all-male a capella group from Yale University.

Richard Aicardi and Brian Dwyer were charged with assaulting two members of the Baker's Dozen outside a party held in honor of the 16 student singers. Witnesses at the time said the trouble started after the vocalists, wearing sports jackets and ties, sang "The Star Spangled Banner."

Evan Gogel, one of the two most seriously injured chorus members, suffered a concussion when Aicardi, Dwyer and others repeatedly kicked him while he was on the ground, police said. Aicardi also was charged with punching Baker's Dozen member William Bailey as he tried to get away.

"This was a cowardly attack on defenseless victims," District Attorney Kamala Harris said in a statement. "We are going to hold accountable those who have been identified as responsible."

Aicardi was charged with two counts of felony assault by means of force and one count of battery, charges that carry a maximum penalty of eight years in prison. Dwyer, who was charged with one count of assault and one count of battery, faces a maximum prison sentence of seven years, if convicted, according to Harris.

Only two of the attackers are being charged, as the men attacked had difficulty identifying their attackers. Not surprising, when you're jumped by a gang of them.

And people wonder why we get so upset when media personalities throw around homophobic slurs, then dismiss them as "jokes."

(Energy Dome tip to Pam.)