Kristen Cooper, Gay University Of Texas San Antonio Student, Allegedly Assaulted, Given Concussion

It seems a week doesn't go by -- or worse, a day -- when we aren't hearing about another LGBT person allegedly being attacked, beaten, or murdered.

Over the weekend Burke Burnett, a gay man living in Texas, was stabbed repeatedly and set on fire and now KENS5.com is reporting that University of Texas San Antonio student Kristen Cooper says she was attacked while attending a Halloween party.

Cooper told a reporter (see the video below) she was waiting for a ride when she was approached by two men from the party who allegedly punched her, threw her into a truck, and continued to assault her while driving.

"[I'm] just still in shock and I'm trying really hard not to cry, but nothing like this should happen to anybody," Cooper is quoted as saying. "They (doctors) said I have a concussion, contusion and whiplash."

Cooper says she was finally dropped off on a highway and was forced to walk until a driver saw her and called 911.

According to KENS5.com, Cooper said "I just think it was a hate crime against me." She revealed that the only thing the men knew about her was that she's gay and they allegedly used homophobic slurs while attacking her.

San Antonio Police are investigating the assault and told KENS5.com that they couldn't confirm if the case will be treated as a hate crime. No arrests have been made at this time.

Comments

[Leecooper Cyn]

05:20 AM on 11/06/2011

if you watch this video, you will see no mention of texas...this is a video about a sweet young woman that was beaten for no reason, it's not about texas, it's about kristen being beaten for one reason and one reason only...she's gay...beaten, kidnapped, beaten until concussions, thrown out on the side of the road like a dead dog, alone, hurt, scared....focus on the story/video people...we need some help....she needs a lawyer..she needs our prayers and support....this girl, and further more no one deserves this....IT HAS TO STOP

[skatoolaki]

10:38 AM on 11/05/2011

Stories like this break my heart.

[Samantha Knapp]

05:23 PM on 11/04/2011

This is so sad! This type of violence MUST STOP! It's disgusting to beat someone simply because they were born to like the same gender.
It's just like the civil rights movement, which a few differences. I thought as a society we had moved beyond such bigotry, I guess not.
I will continue to hope for the healing of humanity and the cure for such hatred...

[Di Gray]

04:52 PM on 11/04/2011

Gay bashing is not a "Texas" thing. Child abuse is not a "Texas" thing.

PLEASE, find something else to pounce on. All this "Texas" stuff is old and played out like an 8-track.

[troyrobertdavid]

01:10 PM on 11/04/2011

What’s just as sad is that she could expect about as much support from Perry and she would get from Bachman if this happened in her district.

[Nancy Cronk]

12:30 PM on 11/04/2011

Michigan's State Senate just passed a bill allowing school bullying. I kid you not. As long as someone can justify saying it is for "moral or religious" reasons, school bullying will be perfectly legal in Michigan. Everyone should call their State Representatives and tell them to vote no on this bill before it gets to signed by the Governor. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDK-ja8PLgg&feature=player_embedded

[HappyBalance]

11:41 AM on 11/04/2011

Shameful and disgusting, this needs to stop.

[floridian5555]

11:35 AM on 11/04/2011

I hope they are punish full extend of the law!!!!!!!!!!

[stevi]

12:19 PM on 11/04/2011

I hope so too, but I wouldn't hold my breath, this is Texas where this brutal, hateful assault occured. I would love to proved wrong and find that even in Texas the right thing can be done to prevent this type of assault.

[skatoolaki]

10:39 AM on 11/05/2011

It's not just Texas. We Southern states aren't known for our tolerance or fairness. Here in Louisiana it's just as bad, if not sometimes worse. And don't even get me started on Mississippi.

[profkemp]

11:31 AM on 11/04/2011

Oh, yeah, we can't CONFIRM this was ALLEGEDLY a hate crime, since we don't have the criminals' confirmation. Going a bit overboard with the faux-objective couching, are we? OVERemphasizing the fact that the suspects have not been ID'd and that the cops can't (yet) definitely call this a hate crime, with eyebrow raised, is the same as calling this woman a liar. Homophobia much at the local affiliate?

[drbracket]

11:22 AM on 11/04/2011

How is this not a hate crime ? They didnt know anything about her except shes gay . I guess that flies in texas

[fredimessina]

10:58 AM on 11/04/2011

I don't condone violence of any kind, But it's only a matter of time before one of these days, A gay kid is going to walk into a school and take out a bunch of kids and the reason for this is going to be because of bullying. but by then it will be too late.

[chaya]

11:56 AM on 11/04/2011

Wow.

Are you a victim of bullying?

I am.

I can tell you that most victims of bullying have fantasies of getting revenge. But I can't even think of an instance where a gay kid "took out a bunch of kids" in revenge. There is a huge difference between the kind of person who fantasizes revenge and the kind of person who can actually, in reality, commit violence.

Let's think of gentler ways of growing up.

[jcloutier2010]

10:53 AM on 11/04/2011

This should have been a wake up call years ago to Americans that this type of crime is NOT acceptable in our "civilized" society. As the nation of the "free world" we should be setting an example. I say give the accused a stiff penalty and kick them out of school. Zero tolerance.

[bnshfr]

10:43 AM on 11/04/2011

Rick Perry threatened to secede from the Union. Promise?!?

[hermanita]

10:29 AM on 11/04/2011

Of all the heinus crimes to be attacked for, our society is pretty twisted..brutally attack someone because...they are gay? They are not hurting anyone and not stealing. I personally don't care what someone does in their bedroom, unless of course it affects their job performance or the way the conduct themselves in society, and that goes for both gay and straight people. We have people in our society who are stealing, selling drugs, doing drugs, raping others and these are the ones that should be brutally punished, not ones who because they prefer to be with the same sex. A healthy relationship is a healthy relationship, gay or straight and that should be the main focus.

[chaya]

12:01 PM on 11/04/2011

Yesterday some straight people chose to have unprotected sex without telling their partner(s) about their STDs, including AIDS.

Yes, straight people.

And hey, Joe Shmo. The victim was a lesbian. Did you know that lesbian rates of STDs, including AIDS, are lower than anyone else's?

No, of course you didn't.

No one is using "the victim card" and it isn't a "pi**ing contest," to use your brutally ignorant words. It was an assault during which she was called epithets that indicated it was a hate crime.

Oh, why do I even try.