Amateur video footage of a New York-based gay man's altercation with a passerby who called him a "faggot" is making the blogosphere rounds.
Astoria, N.Y. resident Michael Hartney, whose partner Turtle filmed the encounter, writes on Tumblr, "Before he even left our block, a man called him “faggot” as he passed. Rather than let the guy get away with it, Turtle decided to confront this man about his hateful behavior. And he filmed it."
In an email to HuffPost Gay Voices, Turtle explained, "I went for my phone as a nonviolent means of protection for myself while I stood my ground on my own street."
Saying he knew he'd be filing a harassment complaint, he added, "I certainly tried to appeal to his humanity by pointing out he’d harassed me right outside my door. If he’d been at all apologetic, I would not have posted the video. Instead, he seemed proud of his actions and even said to go ahead and post it."
UPDATE: The video has been removed from YouTube but NewYorkMag.com provided this full transcript:
Turtle: I'm sorry, you just called me a faggot on my street? Because this is going up on YouTube.
Slick Hair: All right, put it on YouTube. Put it on YouTube.
Turtle: And? You gonna call me a faggot again? Is that what's gonna happen?
Slick Hair: Put it on YouTube.
Turtle: But you did that, right?
Slick Hair: Yes I did.
Turtle: Okay, why is that Slick Hair?
Slick Hair: Oh my god, go away.
Turtle: No, you go away, this is my street.
Slick Hair: So what? It's not your street, you just live here.
Turtle: This is my home, this is where I live. I would never do anything like this to you on your home.
Slick Hair: Go away, it happens all the time.
Turtle: So I should just take it?
Slick Hair: It happens all the time.
Turtle: Probably to you.
Slick Hair: Go away.
Turtle: Why do I have to? You're the one who offended me on my street. And I'm just supposed to, like, keep walking.
Slick Hair: Keep walking.
Turtle: I am walking.
Slick Hair: Hey, buddy. Get away from me.
Turtle: Or what?
Slick Hair: Get away from me.
Turtle: You're not going to key me with that, are you?
Slick Hair: No, I'm not.
Turtle: Well you're holding it like you're going to key me.
Slick Hair: Oh my god.
Turtle: I just want to know where you live so I can file a complaint.
Slick Hair: File a complaint.
Turtle: Yeah, so that's why I'm following you.
Slick Hair: File a complaint. File a complaint all right? File a complaint! File a complaint!
Turtle: That's assault.
Slick Hair: Get away from me.
Turtle: Why?
Slick Hair: Because you're following me.
Turtle: Because you called me a faggot on my street.
Slick Hair: Get away from me.
Turtle: Okay, I think I got enough.
Slick Hair: Get away from me.
Turtle: I won't bother you anymore. Thank you. Thank you for everything.
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