Accused soldiers Keil Cronauer and Christopher Stanzel Anger is growing in the US over the case of a gay man who was attacked by two soldiers in Savannah, Georgia, because they thought he winked at them. The Savannah Morning News reports Kieran Daly, 26, was struck in the back of the head in the early hours of June 12, causing bruising to his brain. The Marines claim Daly came on to them, a story that is contradicted by witnesses. Daly has told reporters: "The guy thought I was winking at him ...I told him, 'I was squinting, man... I'm tired." Witnesses say he was then punched the back of his head as he was walking away. There is no state law that provides hate crimes protections for glbt people in Georgia. The accused soldiers, Keil Cronauer, 22, and Christopher Stanzel, 23, were charged with a misdemeanour by local police and released into military custody. An internal military investigation is being conducted, while the FBI is also investigating – as the men may be prosecuted under US federal law. Local glbt rights groups say it was an unprovoked attack which shows gay people can't simply be who they are on the streets of Georgia. Georgia Equality is working with members of the local community to coordinate a response, as it says it is the third such vicious attack in less than five years.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Wednesday, 16th June 2010 - 4:08pm