Gay man describes beating at the hands of men accused of hate crime
BY LAUREN FITZPATRICK Sun-Times Media lfitzpatrick@suntimes.com November 8, 2011 5:42PM
Sean Little
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Updated: November 9, 2011 10:29AM
A Chicago man spent most of Tuesday defending what he says happened to him in January 2010 on the CTA Red Line and Argyle station platform at the hands of three men: He was gaybashed, punched, kicked and called a “stupid faggot.”
Sean Little, 23, Benjamin Eder, 25, and Kevin McAndrew, 24, all of Evanston, are standing trial on hate crime charges, accused of beating up Daniel Hauff at 3:15 a.m. on Jan. 10, 2010.
Hauff, whose lengthy testimony and cross examination began Monday, said Tuesday he couldn’t remember all the details from a year and a half ago, especially from all the interviews he gave after the alleged attack.
McAndrew’s attorney, Daniel Coyne, presented copies of articles and interview clips in which Hauff told reporters the night “was a blur.” Coyne pressed him hard, accusing Hauff of lobbying the press because he wasn’t happy the men were originally just charged with battery.
“It all started because I was gaybashed and called a faggot and a stupid faggot,” Hauff retorted. “Homophobia is alive and well in Chicago — that’s why I went to the media.”
Hauff, now 35 and out “all my life,” told police he was coming to the aid of another young L rider — who Hauff believed to be gay — who was being taunted by Little.
So he approached Little and the others and scolded them about the hurtful power of words. Little pushed him, so he flipped Little’s hat off by its brim, Hauff testified.
The tussle spilled out of the train at the Argyle station, where a witness photographed Eder punching Hauff in the face.
The trial before Judge Diane G. Cannon continues Nov. 30.
