Student Attacked Over Gay Rights Shirt: Georgetown

The student was perceived to be gay because a shirt she was wearing

By MATTHEW STABLEY

Updated 2:36 PM EST, Sat, Oct 31, 2009

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WASHINGTON -- Two men allegedly attacked a Georgetown student because they thought she was a lesbian, according to the university's Department of Public Safety.

The student was perceived to be gay because of the gay rights shirt she was wearing when she was verbally and physically Tuesday night near the campus entrance on Canal Road, officials said.

She told public safety the men directed derogatory insults at her and blocked her way. They allegedly took her book bag, struck her upper body, pushed her to the ground and then struck her with the book bag.

The student suffered minor injuries that did not require treatment.

Georgetown Student Attacked Over Gay Rights Shirt

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Georgetown Student Attacked Over Gay Rights Shirt

"As Georgetown's LGBTQ & Allied student organization, Georgetown University Pride expresses our deepest regret that a member of our community has been targeted in a discriminatory manner," GU Pride said in a statement released Thursday.

The group applauded the victim's use of the school's bias reporting tool and the university's quick action in alerting the campus about the attack.

D.C. police are investigating.

First Published: Oct 30, 2009 2:11 PM EST

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