Josh Shuck, an openly gay Salt Lake City man, reported a violent incident to police that bystanders say was a hate crime.
Shuck had his head slammed to the ground after engaging in a conversation with a group of drunk strangers, he told SLC station KUTV.
Witnesses say that after Shuck excused himself from the conversation, one of the men shoved him, and after Shuck pushed back, another called him a “fag” and tackled him, crushing two vertebrae in his spine.
Police are investigating the incident to decide whether or not to treat it as a hate crime. Shuck must wear his neck brace for six weeks.
