Eye on GLBT News & Headlines

by R. Zeke Fread

July 9, 2002

Gay Bashers Attack Tampa Bay PrideFest Revelers

TAMPA: The Florida Aquarium was the scene where revelers, dressed in swim trunks and many packing water guns, were attending Saturday Nights Tampa Bay PrideFest's ``Wet Party.'' What was to be a night

of celebration for ones Gay Pride, instead, turned into a night of prejudice and violence.

Scott Boswell, 24, and a group of his friends, were walking to their limousine in a parking garage about 2:30 a.m. Sunday, after attending the Wet Party, when they were taunted and attacked. The altercation started as one of Boswell's friends, was pushed as he got in the limo. As the others in the group turned around to see what was happening, they say one man with his pants down and another man yelling lewd remarks at them.

It was obvious that Boswell and his friends were leaving the Wet Party, as they were wearing swim trunks and had water guns.

``They were calling us queer and whatever,'' Scott said. Shortly thereafter a few of the people charged at him and his friends. Two men began beating Boswell, punching him about his face and at least two of his friends were beaten. One of them was, Steven Hair, 25, fell to the ground after he was punched in the face and cut his head on the ground.

Causing Scott and his friends to spend most of the evening waiting in the emergency room at Tampa General Hospital. Scott was treated for a cut on his mouth and a busted lip, which required a number of sutures to close, two of his friends suffered more serious injuries.

Boswell is calling the incident a hate crime.

"I would call it that because we were minding our own business," Boswell said. "We were there at a gay pride event sponsored by a big company. . . it happens every year."

Deputies arrested Devin Scott Angus, 20, after finding him on the second floor of the garage. He was charged with aggravated battery and battery evidencing prejudice. Angus is accused of yelling slurs and punching Hair and Boswell in their faces. Under Florida law, the battery charge was enhanced from a first-degree misdemeanor to a third- degree felony because it allegedly involved prejudice.

Angus, of 2545 Coachman Road, Clearwater, was released Monday night from Orient Road Jail after posting $6,000 bail.

After the fight, deputies found a white Ford Explorer in the garage and began questioning the occupants. One of the three men inside, Brian Keith Olsen, 21, of Gainesville, started yelling at the deputies and swinging his arms. Olsen was charged with obstructing or opposing an officer without violence. He was released from Orient Road Jail Sunday afternoon after posting $500 bail. He was not accused of the beating

Deputies were also looking Monday for a second suspect. Witnesses said a shirtless man wearing red pants in a white Ford Explorer was also involved in the fight.

``It's very upsetting,'' Boswell said Monday night. ``Especially since it was a pride event, it was for our community to go out and be seen.'' ``We thought we were in a safe place, it was very well lit. We didn't think anything would happen,'' he said.