Boy Cries Wolf, Gets Caught Fabricating Gay Bashing Incident

Posted by Derek Lactaoen on Aug 8, 2012 in Crime | 9 comments

The original photo from Wipe Out Homophobia rallied support for Joseph before he pleaded guilty to filing a false report.

Gay bashings are never okay, but neither is lying about it to save face (literally).

Joseph Baken, a 22-year-old Missoula, Montana resident, originally told police that he was beaten outside a local bar Saturday night by three men hurling fists and insults like “faggot” at him.

And because we take care of our own, we rallied around him on Wipe Out Homophobia’s Facebook Page after they posted the image.

So I’m sorry if I’m a little peeved at hearing the news that the dude made the whole thing up.

Yep, Baken lied about being beat up, and Missoula police now think a botched back flip caused Baken’s bruises (video below).

Oh. Dear. Baby. Jesus. After pleading guilty to fabricating the story, Baken got a $300 fine.

Really? I mean, when I saw the photos, I was as outraged as I normally am at anti-gay violence. It’s never acceptable. It’s always ugly. It’s always saddening.

But to find out that it was all a lie is disappointing for all of us in the LGBTQ community. We look a little foolish right now, all because people think it’s okay to lie about things like this.

The story transcends Baken, though. This is about the severity of hate crime and the reaction it gets from law enforcement, the media, and the local and LGBTQ communities. The worst/best part is that our reaction, and the reaction of the Missoula police, was the right reaction to have. We’re supposed to take these things seriously.

It’s just painfully disappointing to know that some of us don’t agree.

(Via Huffington Post)

Phil Mata

I understand wanting to save face for embarrassing accidents, but this is unacceptable. Homosexuals are beaten on a daily basis, and people, straight and gay, need to understand the severity of … ARGH! Too pissed off to finish that sentence.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Brock-R-Gemberling/641535935 Brock R. Gemberling

I hate to say this but this mate is part of the problem not part of the solution. When you are embarrassed own it and learn from that experience. Do NOT try to monopolize on your stupidity by doing something equally stupid and in this case illegal.
http://www.facebook.com/stseanoftheknife Sean McGrath

i cannot wait to hear how he connected doing a bad backflip to “let’s file a false report with the police”.
LeNairXavier

Sadly, this doesn’t surprise me. For the gay media repeatedly tells us to “play victim”. Play the sympathy card. And now, mainstream media has followed along. So much so that tales of gays showing strength are either swept under the rug, or made a quick flash-in-the-pan sidenote. So now, any mentally unstable person starved for attention is going to come up with a plan to “play victim”. Even to fake a gay bashing.
http://twitter.com/FemmeGurl Surreal Reality

Booh! Joseph! He should be ashamed of himself I was reading a story of his alleged hate crime yesterday and felt sad for him.There was even a letter circulating yesterday wishing him a Happy Birthday that I was going to sign. Today I read this and upset that he lied about the entire incident. Jospeh your and idiot!
Milos Mom

Well, I suppose there is one who will cry wolf within every cause. It would be one thing if he was 16 but he is a grown man so that is makes me a little angry. But everyone is not perfect. Even us gays. I can forgive him if he makes a public apology and volunteers for his local LGBT center. He has to step up to the plate for what he did. That is what a decent person would do.
http://www.facebook.com/cupofstars Marisa Brenizer

Hey UB…why you no credit the tipper for the tip?? D:

http://twitter.com/DLactaoen Derek Lactaoen

Oh no, Marisa! Did you send in a tip for this story? I picked it up off my Reader feed. Trust me, if I had seen your tip, I totally would have given you a shout out . Shoot me a tweet next time with tips @DLactaoen:twitter

http://www.facebook.com/savanha.cole Savanha Cole

People should not make this kinda stuff up. people get beaten up every day some people even get killed over this kinda stuff.

Tags

Boy Cries Wolf, Gets Caught Fabricating Gay Bashing Incident

Pages

Tags

Boy Cries Wolf, Gets Caught Fabricating Gay Bashing Incident

Yo Categories

Pages