Mother and daughter attacked after being mistaken for lesbian couple
By Will Stroude
Police are appealing for information after a homophobic attack in New York City last weekend, where a mother and daughter were allegedly attacked in the middle of a busy restaurant after being mistaken for a lesbian couple.
Tiffany Santiago was left in hospital after she and her mother visited a Korean barbecue restaurant on the city’s East Side last Saturday (September 12), where they were verbally abused and viciously attacked by another group of diners, CBS2 reports.
“We keep hearing the word ‘lesbian’ said over and over again,” Santiago told reporter Matt Kozar.
“Me and my mom look very similar in age, and so I think me with the short hair, and my mom’s really tall – she’s like five-eight; she’s a big lady.”
She added: “I think they thought we were on a date.”
The trio, who reportedly appeared drunk, proceeded verbally abuse and attack the pair.
“He threw me across the restaurant,” Santiago continued.
“I don’t even know how far I went, but I went through tables, chairs, glasses.”
While her mother suffered minor cuts and bruises, Santiago was treated at hospital, where she received six stitches in her knee. She has been forced to walk with a cane and said it would be several days before she could go back to work as a veterinary technician.
“For a while I was just really hurt,” she said. “I cried just for a while.”
Police are appealing for information about the three suspects, and Santiago says she hopes someone recognises her attackers and helps bring them to justice.
Watch CBS2’s report on the incident below:
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