As University of Wisconsin student Brett Timmerman approached a local Platteville sandwich shop, two young men verbally harassed and physically assaulted him. They spat on his face, struck him in the head and tackled him to the ground by the neck, simply because he was gay. His injuries included a ruptured eardrum.
When the authorities arrived, the young men falsely accused Timmerman of starting the fight. As a result, Timmerman was cited for disorderly conduct, only to have the charge later dismissed.
Lambda Legal recently reached a settlement with one of defendants, in the wake of what Timmerman described as "a long and emotional process." But the openly gay former college student remains strong in his convictions.
"I hope that the visibility of my case will help others understand their rights," he said.
Hate Crime Law Facts
- Wisconsin's hate crime law creates civil remedies for victims who have been assaulted because of their sexual orientation.
- Less than 50 percent of all states have a hate crime law covering sexual orientation.
- This case marks the first time Wisconsin's hate crime law was used to recover a civil settlement for a victim of antigay violence.
