The Log Cabin Republicans are holding their annual convention at the Hilton Anatole Hotel in Dallas this weekend and one of its members was involved in an altercation at a bar inside the hotel early yesterday morning. The Dallas Voice has the story on the assault in which the attacker used an anti-gay slur:

“Two groups of intoxicated individuals got into a verbal argument,” (Sr. Cpl. Kevin) Janse (of the Dallas PD) said in an e-mail Saturday afternoon. “Supposedly the victim and his friend were whistling at the suspect, who took offense and shoved the victim. Officers interviewed both parties and made a class-C assault. Which is not a jailable offense if the two parties can be separated, which they were. Detectives are interviewing all parties as we speak but there is no indication of a hate crime based on what both parties are telling detectives. Just two drunk people.”

Asked to confirm rumors that the suspect used the word “faggot,” Janse said: “Yes. that word was used, but it was provoked.” Asked whether he meant that the word was provoked by the whistling, he said: “Yes. And comments about them ‘looking good.'”

Laura Martin, the police department's LGBT liaison officer, said detectives were conducting follow-up interviews today with the suspect, the victim and witnesses. She added that the use of the word “faggot” doesn't automatically make the incident a hate crime.

“The crime has to be motivated, has to start, because of the suspect's bias,” Martin said. “‘In and of itself, calling a name during a fight doesn't necessarily indicate that it was motivated by bias.”