No Hate Crimes Charges Expected for Assailants Who Beat Gay Oklahoma Man Unconscious

Two people charged in connection with the beating of a gay Oklahoma realtor are not expected to face hate crime charges despite the victim and a witness relaying that the assailants hurled anti-LGBTQ epithets before and during the assault, reports local newspaper The Oklahoman.

Even if police had noted allegations of a hate crime in their arrest report, state law does not extend protections against hate crime to LGBTQ people, the newspaper noted.

As previously reported at EDGE, Christian Council, 28, and a friend were in Council's car in the early hours of June 27 when they were unable to pass a pickup truck that had been parked in the street. After Council honked his horn twice, the truck was moved. Council parked and got out of his car, as did his friend, 26-year-old Andrew Martinez.

That's when the homophobic slurs started. The Oklahoman provided more details about what transpired, saying that according to Council, 23-year-old Amery Dickerson threw herself at Council, shoving him into a car. As Dickerson continued to attack Council, he shoved her away in self-defense, hitting her in the face.

Then the two men accompanying Dickerson got involved, with 24-year-old Bennett Stone allegedly taking off his shirt and uttering more anti-gay slurs. Stone and the other man reportedly beat Council until Martinez attempted to intervene. Council and Martinez say that while one of the men held Martinez back the other man continued to beat Council even though he was on the ground. Council blacked out as the attack continued.

Martinez called 911, and police arrived soon after. Everyone was still there, and Stone was still shirtless. He and Dickerson were released by police but subsequently charged with misdemeanor assault and battery.

Council described what happened on social media, as well as in an interview with local news station KFOR.

Council described his injuries to the media, which included a concussion and broken rib - and, he said, PTSD. He also suffered financially since, being a realtor, he was unable to show properties while injured.

Though Council maintains that he was attacked because he is gay, a police spokesperson told the media, "There is no hard evidence that suggests the attack was because of his sexual orientation."

The spokesperson added: "These people did not know each other. There's no indication they jumped out of their vehicle because of his sexual orientation."

"I want to make this very clear," Council told the newspaper. "They got out of their truck because they were mad that I honked at them. They beat me unconscious because I was gay."

Council believes that Stone and Dickerson should face restorative justice, saying that would "do a lot more for our community than jail time will."