Austin to Rally Against Hate Attack

Gay rights advocates and civic leaders plan to rally in Austin Saturday in response to an attack last weekend against Matt Morgan and Emmanuel Winston (pictured), two members of a gay softball team.

According to the Austin American-Statesman,Morgan and Winston say they left the downtown gay bar Oilcan Harry's around 2:30 Saturday morning dressed in their team's "Shady Ladies" jerseys. They nearly reached a parking garage underneath City Hall when they encountered four attackers shouting antigay slurs.

"At 2 p.m. on Saturday, Morgan and Winston will join other supporters for an 'Austin March Against Hate' to call attention to the attack by retracing their steps early Saturday morning by marching from Oilcan Harry's at 211 West 4th St. to City Hall," reports the American-Statesman.

The march will be preceded by a noon rally at City Hall.

The four attackers fled the scene. Police continue to investigate the incident.