Two Women Beat By a Mob of Teenagers in Northeast Philadelphia for Walking Arm-In-Arm

It’s been nearly two months since the much-talked-about gay-bashing that took place in Center City on September 11th. The  assailants were arrested, now awaiting trial and faced with the very real possibility that their lives will forever be affected by their their actions on that night. But have we learned anything? A story I came across tonight suggests maybe not.

Two women in Northeast Philadelphia say they were attacked by a mob of teenagers and ridiculed with homophobic slurs just because they were walking arm-in-arm. 

Our News + Opinion blog has more:

The two women, Jessica Kelly and Bonnie Moran, told NBC 10 they were returning from a party on Halloween night in Mayfair when they were beset upon by a mob of teenagers. “We were walking arm-in-arm, like most girls do, and we hear them say, ‘Look at those ugly lesbians,’” Moran told the station. The group then shouted homophobic slurs before attacking; the two women are not gay.

While they were being attacked, the pair told NBC 10, the teens kept referencing the film The Purge. “All I kept hearing was, ‘Purge! Purge! Do it! Do it! The Purge,’” Moran said.

Kelly’s ribs were fractured in the attack. Moran suffered a concussion and injuries to her neck. The pair say they were also robbed by the mob of teens. Police made two arrests after the violent assault, of a 16-year girl and an 18-year-old boy. They’ve been charged with robbery, assault and related offenses.

Philadelphia police are asking anyone who knows anything about the attack to come forward. Anonymous tips can be made via phone (215.686.8477), text message (text to PPDTIP, or 773847), or using this online form.