US: Montana man falsely claimed he was beaten in anti-gay attack

PinkNews logo surrounded by illustrated images including a rainbow, unicorn, PN sign and pride flag.

A Montana man has admitted falsely reporting that he was injured in an anti-gay attack.

According to police, Joseph Baken claimed that he was beaten early on Sunday morning by three men after entering a Missoula bar and asking where he could find a gay bar.

Images of his facial injuries were circulated on social networks and the “assault” led to fears of homophobic attacks.

AP reports that police charged him with filing a false report after a video emerged of Baken trying to do a backflip off a kerb and hitting his face on the pavement.

He pleaded guilty today (Tuesday).

Comments (0)

MyPinkNews members are invited to comment on articles to discuss the content we publish, or debate issues more generally. Please familiarise yourself with our community guidelines to ensure that our community remains a safe and inclusive space for all.

Loading Comments