Three gender nonconforming patrons at a brewery in York, Pennsylvania, on Friday night were chased down and attacked by a group of men screaming at us and calling us fa***ts, according to one of the victims.In a Facebook message posted from the ER where one of their friends was under observation, Brady Pappas detailed the attack, which included an accusation that police responding to the incident dismissed everything that we said. Related Man burns 100 LGBTQ+, Black, & Jewish library books on social media video We are taking it very seriously, said York Mayor Michael Helfrich in response.According to Pappas, the confrontation started in the beer garden at Gift Horse Brewing Company, where Pappas and two friends, Tragedy and Vayne, were enjoying a night outside when a table of 5 near us began making comments towards the end of our meal. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today I was in the bathroom at the time, Pappas wrote, and Tragedy was on a smoke break when the table and Vayne exchanged a few words. We had already paid our tabs, left the bar, and were making our way across the street when the table began screaming at us and calling us fa***ts. The group then ran out of the bar, across traffic, and circled us on the sidewalk, saying things like If you wanna dress like women, act like women. They were threatening us and getting in our faces for a few minutes while staff and some bystanders were watching from across the street.As the three de-escalated the situation to our best ability and walked away from the group, Pappas said their harassers continued provoking them, screaming, Leave fa***ts! Get out of here! After exchanging yells from down the street, the group, led by one of the men, began running after us and attacked Vayne, Pappas wrote. After a struggle, one attacker threw Vayne to the ground and choked them to the point that they turned purple, passed out, and began seizing after coming back to consciousness about 5 seconds later. Tragedy and I were trying everything we could to help. I truly did not know what was going to happen to my sister as I was sobbing, trying to pull them off of Vayne, begging for them to stop.Thats when a Gift Horse staffer pulled the attacker off Vayne and restrained him until police arrived.Im so grateful for the witnesses who came to our aid, and consoled us. They were queer and ally community members who actually knew us, Pappas wrote.Unfortunately, from the moment we got Vayne off the ground, the group began blaming us for the entire thing, Pappas added. I heard them lie several times to bystanders and the police. And used because theyre gay as an excuse. The interactions with the cops were disappointing as they dismissed everything that we said. And this guy got to walk away with him and Vayne both getting charged with disorderly conduct. This was hate. Vayne never laid a hand on the guy until they had to defend themselves.York City Police Capt. Daniel Lentz said that no charging documents in the incident are currently available, according to the York Daily Record. Gift Horse management corroborated Pappas account the next day.Several despicable, poor excuses for human beings followed, harassed and violently attacked 3 people solely because they (the disgusting individuals) viewed the 3 as different and not conforming to the norm,' the Gift Horse posted Saturday.The brewery stated that staff members provided statements to the police, and management provided the attackers names based on information retrieved from their tabs.Needless to say, the individuals involved in this violent act of hate are permanently banned from Gift Horse property, the brewery said.Community outrage over the police response and a disorderly conduct charge for one of the victims had York City Police Commissioner Michael Muldrow on defense over the weekend. ANY incident where Hate Fueled Violence is alleged (in this community) will ALWAYS be a priority to myself, this Department, and York City Government as a whole, the commissioner posted Saturday.To that end, after consulting with Downtown Inc. Leadership (who were on top of this incident from the start, advocating for the Victims and the safety of the Downtown Community); (1) Ive ordered our Detectives back in (today) to do a thorough review of the case (i.e.; meeting with responding Officers, studying available surveillance video, speaking to victims, witnesses and persons involved as needed, reviewing the circumstances, and consulting with the DAs Office to make sure the most appropriate charges are filed) (2) Notified the Human Relations Commission about the incident, and (3) Deployed our departments new Trauma Responder Counselor (to follow-up with the individuals affected during this incident, to help them safely process through what occurred).Writing from the ER at 2 a.m. on Saturday, Pappas summed up the anxiety many not conforming to the norm' are struggling with today. Life has gotten so much scarier in this political climate and there are almost moments daily where Im made so physically uncomfortable and feel scared from negative interactions with strangers. Everywhere feels unsafe. A place I once felt on top of the world with my friends is unrecognizable, Pappas wrote.This was one of the scariest moments of my life. And I am just so glad my sisters and I are OK. As Vayne has said, its important we stand up for each other, but please be safe because these people do not know when to stop.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.