Gay heroes risk their lives to save a teen robbery victim (VIDEO)

Illustrated rainbow pride flag on a pink background.

A gay couple were viciously beaten as they tried to save a teen from being robbed.

A gay man said he and his partner were beaten and robbed after they stepped in to try and save a 14-year-old boy who was already being robbed of his phone.

Calvin Lawrence and his partner Joseph Cowart feared for their lives as the youths terrorised them and others on a late-night train ride.

Gay heroes risk their lives to save a teen robbery victim (VIDEO)

Lawrence said his partner was initially mocked for being disabled, before being “punched and kicked about the right temple, both knees, right shin, and left ribs” by a female attacker.

The pair were also subjected to homophobic slurs, as the group called Cowart a “faggot” while kicking him in the head and chest.

Lawerence said he believes the pair targeted he and his partner because they stood up to them – and because they seemed like easy targets.

Cowart had a stroke ten years ago and has been left disabled as a result. Lawrence acts as his carer.

According to Lawrence, the train driver continued to operate the train “as if nothing had happened”.

The pair claim the conductor then ignored their pleas after they made an emergency call to stop the train so they could call the police.

“Everyone that was around was just looking at their phone and no one was helping,” the couple told The Washington Post.

Shockingly, although the Metro Transit Police claim to be investigating the case, it does not classify the incident as a hate crime.

“The mere fact that during the commission of a crime that you get called a name doesn’t necessarily make it a bias motivation,” Metro spokesman Dan Stessel said.

“A bias motivation can be added by prosecutors when the case is papered if the evidence will support it.”

Gay heroes risk their lives to save a teen robbery victim (VIDEO)

He added that Metro was sympathetic to the victims and will investigate the case thoroughly.

They claim to have identified and questioned a young woman suspected of participating in the attack, although charges are yet to be brought.