A man has reported being attacked in Provincetown, Massachusetts — often referred to as the gayest town in America — by three men who allegedly shouted homophobic slurs while assaulting him.
Chris Kostka was walking home from a friend’s place early Monday morning following a night out when he said he was approached by the men, who had a pro-presidential bumper sticker on their black Lexus sedan.
“All of a sudden, I just feel myself getting pushed to the ground,” Kostka told NBC Boston.
“I fly forward and I turn, I see three guys. Of course, I’m stunned from just being thrown to the pavement. I just cover my face, go into a fetal position as I’m getting kicked and getting called some gay slurs.”
He said the attackers kicked him several times in the chest and shouted insults before fleeing the scene.
“I got a couple good kicks into my chest. Luckily, just a couple of scrapes and bruises. Nowadays things like this happen all the time, and it could end up a lot worse.”
A Shocking Attack in a Safe Haven
Kostka noted that he had let his guard down because Provincetown is widely recognised as a safe haven for LGBTQ+ individuals.
“It’s such a happy place for everyone, so safe, and you just don’t expect that. So for it to come out of the blue, you don’t know what to think.”
With its long-standing reputation as a welcoming and inclusive destination, the attack has sent shockwaves through the community.
Police Investigating as Potential Hate Crime
The Provincetown Police Department has confirmed it is actively investigating the incident and treating it as a possible hate-motivated assault.
“The Provincetown Police Department is taking this report very seriously and has detectives actively investigating the incident,” police said in a statement.
No arrests have been made at this time.
