Vigil scheduled in light of recent beatings of gay men

SALT LAKE CITY — The sister of gay man who was assaulted this week told vigil-goers Friday that her brother wants to see an end to the kind of hatred that left his nose broken and face badly cut and bruised.

"He said that more than anything, he wanted to see an end to this violence," said Marnie Nelson Bales of her brother, Cameron Nelson.

Bales and more than 100 others gathered at the Liberty Park vigil Friday night to issue an interfaith response to the beatings of three gay Utah men in recent weeks.

Nelson was taking out the trash after work in American Fork around 12:45 a.m., Thursday, when as many as three men approached him and beat him while using gay slurs, according to police.

Nelson believes the men may have followed him when he earlier left a club close to the salon, according to the owner of the salon where he works.

"He's doing fine. He doesn't want to really talk to anybody. His spirit is a little shaken. But he's doing fine," said Mike Kowallis, the owner of Relik Salon. "The one thing he kept saying was he felt sorry for the people who did it to him. 'They must have some real issues they're dealing with. I feel sorry for them."'

Bales said her brother is a "warm, kind, loving brother. ...It is intolerable to treat anyone as less than precious and valuable."

Dane Hall, an openly gay man, was attacked outside of Club Sound on a night the bar had a designated gay theme.

Hall, 20, had his jaw broken in three places and six teeth knocked out. A second gay man was also attacked in the same area that night, although police do not believe the two incidents are related.

Hall briefly addressed Friday's crowd, saying he was grateful for the outpouring of support. A Wells Fargo account in Hall's name was opened to help pay for his medical bills.

"I don't know how to express myself, but just know that I'm very grateful," he said.

Salt Lake Police Chief Chris Burbank told vigil-goers it's important to involve police when violence takes place.

He shared a personal story of his cousin, a gay man who was a victim of domestic violence on multiple occasions who wouldn't report the violence to police for fear of others finding out about his sexual orientation.