Folsom Street Fair Tourists Pepper-Sprayed In Apparent Hate Crime

Folsom Street Fair Tourists Pepper-Sprayed In Apparent Hate CrimeImage: Google
Rose Garrett
Published on September 25, 2016

Two men were accosted with anti-gay slurs and pepper-sprayed outside the Fillmore Street McDonald's on Saturday night, reports the Chronicle.

Neil Frias and Jeff White, both 28, were visiting San Francisco from New York for the city's Folsom Street Fair this weekend. As Frias exited the fast food restaurant at around 9pm, five men pulled up in a blue minivan and began harassing the two men, saying "You fags are destroying family values," Frias told the Chron.

Three men exited the van and began spraying Frias and White with pepper spray, spraying Frias in the face and forcing White to curl into a ball to protect his face. The suspects ran back into their vehicle and fled the scene after a woman shouted that she would call the police.

Police are currently seeking surveillance footage of the incident, and told the Chron that “We take the crimes very seriously ... If anybody feels they can attack someone based on their sexual (orientation), we’re going to go after them and hold them accountable.”

For their part, Frias and White said that they were shocked that such an attack would happen in San Francisco, a touchstone for gay rights and acceptance. However, they told the Chron that they were determined to enjoy today's fair as planned.