An update to the brutal Long Island gay-bashing of an openly lesbian Top Chef contestant: Nassau County detectives have apprehended one man in connection with the September 1 assault of Josie Smith-Malave and two female companions at a bar. Twenty-year-old Matthew W. Walli of Oregon was arrested and charged with second-degree robbery. Detectives tell Newsday they recovered a video camera belonging to one of the victims which "apparently pointed in the direction of the suspects inside the bar" and are searching for up to 11 other suspects.
Meanwhile, season 2 contestant Josie Smith-Malave speaks out for the first time.
"They were screaming [anti-gay] profanities, next thing you know they are throwing things at us and surrounding us," she said of the Sept. 1 incident. "Someone was attacking my friend and slamming her head in the concrete and dragging my sister's knees on the pavement and punching her in her face and body. And there was someone running around with a camera taking pictures and laughing."
More brutality described to the New York Post: "The group 'encircled' the trio, started shouting out hateful slurs. such as 'f - - - ing dykes,' threw "sticks, cups and other objects" at the women, and even spit on them before the violence occurred."
Smith-Malave estimates up to 12 men harassed her, her heterosexual sister and her gay friend at the Partners bar in Sea Cliff.
Arrest Made in Top Chef Attack [Advocate]
Top Chef Contestant Healing After Attack [Newsday]
"Top Chef" Attack Possible Bias Crime [Newsday]
My Gay Bash Nightmare [NY Post]
That is truly horrifying and sad.
I hope her attackers are bought to justice soon.
Posted by: Kevin | 13 September 2007 at 23:41
Thanks for this blurb. As a lesbian, I always feel like I'm safer than gay men, but it's not necessarily true. How scary.
Posted by: Lizzy | 15 September 2007 at 09:26
Why isn't he being charged with a hate crime? That clearly fits the criteria or does NY not have hate crime statutes?
Posted by: Aundrea | 17 September 2007 at 10:13