Two Ohio College Students Ambushed And Gay Bashed, LGBT Students and Community Respond

Two Ohio Miami University college students were ambushed and left bloody and beaten last week when they were attacked just because they were  gay.

“I was just walking my friend back from the drag show that was being put on,” said Miami University student Michael Bustin. “We were both holding hands for a few seconds. There was nothing to it. We were just holding hands.”

Bustin then heard someone yell a gay slur before four men walked up to his friend.

“Out of nowhere, he started punching (my friend). I got in the way of the two, saying we wanted to go home. We didn’t want any harm. Then, I got sucker punched twice in the face,” Bustin said.

Bustin  remembers the four men giving him several more swings before some other students in the area came to the two mens aid and stepped in.  “If they weren’t there, I’d probably by lying in the hospital right now,” Bustin said.

The University of Miami and Oxford PD  responded swiftly, sending a bulletin to the community, and are working on sketches of the attackers.  (See drawing at right)

In response Students at Miami University and the University of Cincinnati will hold coinciding rallies at 5pm in Oxford and Cincinnati, Thursday April 5th

WHAT: Miami University and University of Cincinnati Anti-Violence Rallies
WHEN: Thursday, April 5 2012 at 5pm
WHO: Miami’s Spectrum and UC’s Alliance
WHERE: University of Cincinnati students will convene at the corner of Martin Luther King Drive and Clifton Ave while Miami students will gather at the Phi Delt Gates on Miami’s Campus.

For more about the event please go to the UC Alliance Facebook Page

Source:  WLTW News and Michael X Chanak Board Member at Large
Gay & Lesbian Community Center of Greater Cincinnati