Ohio State University junior Cole Ledford intends to end the hatred and persecution against LGBT students.
Ledford was a victim of violent attack earlier this month when a random stranger punched him in the face after witnessing Ledford kiss his boyfriend outside of a building on the Ohio State University campus. Ledford was left with a black eye as a result of the attack. The assailant has not yet been positively identified.
Rather than allowing the attack to offend him, Ledford is using it to spread the message ‘Love is Louder than Hate.”
Following the attack, Ledford posted a response to his assailant on Twitter. The post read as follows:
“I’m sorry that you called me [expletive]. I’m sorry you hit me for no reason. I’m sorry whatever insecurities you have don’t allow you to accept others for who they are. I’m sorry I threaten you.
“I’m NOT sorry I’m gay. I’m proud to be this way. I’m proud to be confident enough to love who I love and to love me. I’m proud to have friends and family that love me regardless of me. Honestly, I’m not sorry.”
The post has been retweeted over 40,000 times since the incident on November 6. Ledford later posted a tweet thanking his attacker for showing him that love is greater than hate.
Physical attacks such as the one launched by Ledford’s attacker can be classified as assault and battery, a felony punishable by one to twenty years of prison.
On the UTM campus, the Allies program helps promote awareness of the LGBT lifestyle while providing an accepting and positive environment for these individuals to gather. In addition, the Department of Public Safety also urges students who are the victims of assault or domestic violence to contact public safety as soon as the incident takes place.
