A gay man was beaten near a South of Market LGBTQ bar in San Francisco over the weekend leading to his hospitalization. Barry Miles posted a picture of himself after the attack on his Instagram page on February 6th, where he wrote about the incident. According to a statement from the San Francisco Police Department, officers responded to a well-being check at approximately 12:02 am on February 5th, and located an adult male being treated by medics. The victim was unable to provide details regarding what led up to his injuries.
At this time, there is no evidence that the attack was hate-motivated. However, San Francisco Pride President Nguyen Pham, a gay man, condemned the attack and wrote in an email, “We cannot ignore the growing nationwide trend of violence against the LGBTQ+ community, from the streets to the statehouses.” Powerhouse, a leather and cruise bar located on Folsom Street, is an anchor of the LGBTQ community in the SOMA neighborhood and has been a part of the LGBTQ community for over 20 years.
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Gary Virginia, a longtime gay activist and friend of Miles, set up a GoFundMe for him to help pay for his expenses, including a tooth implant, which he estimated would cost about $5,000. As of press time, the fundraiser has raised $8,000 out of a $10,000 goal. Virginia said he has been communicating with Miles via text, and Miles is in recovery from his injuries, which include a heart attack, two stents, a neck fracture, and a lost front tooth.
