Just Avoided a Gay Bashing

[Mildred Plotka]

I’m Iin Long Beach for my Grandmother’s funeral. I wanted to distract my mind so walked up a few blocks to Target. On my way home I hear someone yelling at me in the parking lot. I started walking faster and jumped down a wall to get out of there faster. I’m a couple blocks away and a white van pulls up by me and yells “Get in the back if my van Mother ****er or I’m going to **** you up”. He then threaten ed to shoot me in the face and started yelling some lovely homophobic slurs. I turn to the nearest house and pound on the door and doorbell. Luckily the lovely lady answered quickly. Called the police and they haven’t showed up about a hour later.


I have been suffering from major panic disorder for quite some time. And finally have been pushing myself to do more and be more active. Then this happens. Ugh.

 

Edit: The police just shows up and basically acted like I was making it up. Asking me several times if I provoked him. 

Im sure I’ll calm down but I just want to crawl in bed and never get out. 

[ahhrealmonsters]

I'm so sorry this happened to you. I also have panic disorder with a history of agoraphobia. Feel free to reach out if you want to talk.

[Mildred Plotka]

Thanks!

I was just starting to get a little bit better and push myself more. And the. This nonsense happened.

[TheGingerBreadMan]

How digusting. Shame on the police for their response. I'm very sorry that you had to experience this. My thoughts are with you today.

[Huss417]

Sorry to hear this. Hopefully in this day and age there are cameras around on buildings that possibly caught something. I would go above the cops who you spoke with.

[dramamama611]

{{{{Hugs}}}}

[Mildred Plotka]

Thanks everyone! I have a call in to the local lgbtq center here, so hopefully they’ll be able to know how to handle this, especially with the lack of empathy on the cop’s end. I’m sure he didn’t report it as a hate crime. He actually said that aside from the threats of violence everything else that the guy said was within his rights. Ugh.

I mostly want to make sure that this guy isn’t targeting other lgbtq people in the area. I am pretty sure he was sitting in the Target parking lot looking for someone to harass. While I don’t think he had a gun (he would have shot me if he did I’m sure) this still needs to be looked into by the authorities. It’s just disgusting that something like this happened and the police just treated it like it was a typical Sunday night.

[antonijan]

Be safe...always

[adamgreer]

Which Long Beach? Long Island? California? Indiana?

[LesWickedly]

Also curious as to which Long Beach, since I live relatively close to Long Beach, CA. That's truly awful what happened, but I'm so happy that kind lady was there and opened her home to you. Lots of love. 

[Jay Lerner-Z]

How awful. Despite everything, I still  believe there are more good guys than bad guys...just about.

My condolences on the loss of your grandmother.

[Mildred Plotka]

Sorry, Long Beach, CA. I grew up in the area so often forget there are other Long Beaches. The gay presence I. This area has definetly increased since I was last here several years ago. I was reading that hate crimes here have gone up. Even more Han in LA. This idiot was clearly targeting a residential neighborhood. I hate thinking that he’s still out there likely doing this to other people. He seems to be all talk but he’s still breaking the law and making people feel unsafe.

Thanks Les. I am very grateful she opened the door.
I’m sure this guy was all talk. He kept saying he was going to shoot me but never did l, so I’m sure he was all talk. Still better safe than sorry and I’m glad he didn’t see where I am staying.

Thank you Jay. There’s no real good or bad time for a hate crime, but I was already an emotional mess and this sure didn’t help matters.