Hate Crimes in Austin? Unbelievable, but yes. This past Friday night, two gay men who play for the Shady Ladies team with Softball Austin were leaving Oilcan Harry’s when they were attacked by four men in the City Hall parking garage. Wearing their Shady Ladies jerseys, Matt Morgan and Emmanuel Winston were followed from the bar and verbally harassed before being physically assaulted. See the news footage here.

My initial reaction… Really??? No way. Not in Austin. This doesn’t happen here!

But it did. And now it’s time to do something about it. The community has organized swiftly, so this Saturday take part in the “Austin March Against Hate” at 2pm to take the same walk that Matt and Emmanuel took that night. Everyone will  gather at OCH starting at 2PM on Saturday, February 27, 2010 and then march from OCH to City Hall at 3PM.

If you play in any gay sports league, wear your jersey. If you are part of any LGBT organization, show your pride and dress accordingly. Bring your signs. Bring your voice. Bring your solidarity.

Show your support by responding to the Facebook invite here. As of right now there are over 800 confirmed attendees. And that’s why I love Austin.