Lesbian.com, June 14, 2012
A New York judge has awarded Lisa Friedlander $25,000 as compensation for the vicious attack she suffered while dining at a Sizzler almost two years ago. Friedlander was shoved in the chest, kicked in the legs by the manager at the Forest Hills, N.Y. franchise. The male manager’s physical assault on Friedlander was accompanied by profane slurs.
The confrontation escalated as patrons at the restaurant joined in, shouting anti-gay slurs and throwing objects at the defenseless Friedlander. The conflict ended when the victim’s friends called 911 and Friedlander was taken to the hospital.
“I was attacked and threatened by people yelling terrible anti-LGBT slurs, throwing things at me and threatening to sexually assault me,” says Friedlander, represented in her case by Lambda Legal. “On that day, I felt helpless, humiliated and frightened, but today I’m so proud that I stood up and did something about it. No one should have to go through a nightmare like that.”
Natalie Chin, Staff Attorney for Lambda Legal, says the verdict sends a message that bias attacks against will not be tolerated, “Businesses are not exempt from treating LGBT people with dignity and respect.”
