Gay Man Beaten Outside Muskegon Bar

Staff Report

Originally printed 2/7/2013 (Issue 2106 - Between The Lines News)

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MUSKEGON - A 29-year-old Muskegon man was beaten unconscious outside of DJ's Pub and Grill on Henry Street in Muskegon early on the morning of Feb. 3 where he had been singing karoke the night before. The attack happened as the bar was closing, and took place in an area of the parking lot without cameras.

Reports say that four men attacked Adam Lee Johnson while making comments about his sexual orientation. Days prior to the attack a man had been thrown out of the bar for making derogatory remarks and threats toward Johnson. It is unclear if those incidents are related. Johnson was a regular at the pub.

Johnson was taken by ambulance to the hospital where he was treated for a mild concussion and bruising. Johnson filed a police report Feb. 5. "Went to file a report and they told me that the case had been closed due to lack of information, but reopened due to so many people calling on my behalf! I'm absolutely humbled and grateful for you all. Thank you for your continued support and love. We have some real warriors out there," Johnson wrote on Facebook.

Johnson is committed to being open about the attack. "I want to use every resource I can to bring awareness to this incident and make sure it doesn't happen to someone else," he told Between The Lines.

Muskegon Police have confirmed that a detective has been assigned to the case, and they are looking into if it was a hate crime. The victim has also connected with Equality Michigan, a statewide organization that offers services including reporting, counseling, and victim advocacy for those targeted because of their sexual orientation or gender identity and expression.

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