Lesbian couple beaten in Austin

The Chicago Tribune reported late Thursday that a lesbian couple was attacked last weekend by a mob, and police are calling the assault a hate crime.

The women were beaten Saturday, clutching each other as they were pinned against a car by about 10 men – one of whom apparently knew one of the women from high school. They were taunted for being gay as the men took turns punching and kicking them, one of the victims told the Tribune.

“It was punches, kicks, everything being thrown at us,” said the 23-year-old woman. “We just held each other until somebody said, ‘Here come the police.'”

Tribune reporters Adam Sege and Rex W. Huppke reported that one man – Terry Glover, 24, of the first block of North Parkside Avenue – has been charged with two counts of felony hate crime and two counts of felony robbery. He was being held in lieu of $1 million bail.

Police are seeking the other men involved in the attack.

To read the rest of the Tribune’s story, including comments from gay rights advocates, click here.