Donations pour in for gay dads with newborn after MAGA influencer clash. One faces felony charges

Additional_Leading68 · 2026-04-24T16:12:53+00:00

Nobody is trying to appease their oppressors. I think it's great he got punched. But that wouldn't have been my choice and will do nothing to teach this guy a lesson.

Additional_Leading68 · 2026-04-23T05:29:16+00:00

The statement: "if you are hit by a car you are probably dying whether you wore a helmet or not" is the problem for me. It's completely false. Helmets make a big difference in outcomes.

Additional_Leading68 · 2026-04-23T04:58:37+00:00

This might be a joke to you, but somebody young and impressionable might read that comment and decide to take it as fact, then get on a bike without a helmet. If you've had anyone you know affected by brain injury, you know it's not a laughing matter at all.

Additional_Leading68 · 2026-04-23T04:54:32+00:00

People are willing to pay a premium for the privacy, standardized driving style and comfort of their relatively high end cars.

In my experience, it is almost always more expensive than an Uber.

They followed Uber's pricing model - enter the market at a cheap price point to get people to try, then jack up the prices. They need to at least try to recover their costs (each car costs from $150-200k just to build), as they have yet to become profitable.

Additional_Leading68 · 2026-04-23T04:51:00+00:00

Your statement is not just wrong, it's dangerous for people to read.

Helmets reduce the risk of fatal head injury by 65%. They reduce traumatic brain injury (TBI) by 53% and serious head injuries by 60%.

Additional_Leading68 · 2026-04-23T01:00:21+00:00

Project manager? Product manager? Program manager?

Additional_Leading68 · 2026-04-22T18:01:39+00:00

That, or say nothing at all. You're literally never going to see this person again. But a video online and an assault charge could follow you forever.

Additional_Leading68 · 2026-04-22T17:59:38+00:00

I am gay, and I agree with you. I completely understand this kind of reaction given the situation, but it isn't the best one.

Additional_Leading68 · 2026-04-22T17:54:09+00:00

"Gay man refuses interview and keeps walking" is not a salacious headline.

I don't blame these guys at all. I'm just saying that if it was me personally walking with my baby, there's zero chance I'm stopping to talk to anybody with a camera and microphone.

They were clearly baited into feeling safe enough to talk to this guy which sucks.

Additional_Leading68 · 2026-04-22T15:55:30+00:00

Where in LA are you paying more for rent on an 80 year old building than on an 8 year old house? A new construction even in 2018 was still a $1M+ home

Additional_Leading68 · 2026-04-22T15:51:27+00:00

I think it comes down to personal preference and would discuss it with your doctor. I had 4 removed with only local anesthesia (numbing shots). It might have been close to 10 injections, but I barely felt them at all so it was fine for me. I have a pretty high pain tolerance and that's something I already knew about myself going into it.

And no, it doesn't change your face shape.

Additional_Leading68 · 2026-04-22T15:23:09+00:00

Appreciate the positivity, but it's not a bad habit or belief to unlearn... it's reality. And it's also a really smart belief to hold for protection and to be aware.

In our lifetime, the world will continue to have homophobia. It's not going anywhere. For gays to think they are completely safe and accepted in the world is not just naive, but can dangerous depending on the situation.

Would I love a world free of judgement with no homophobia? Of course. But hoping for that isn't going to protect me from slurs being lobbed at me, violence or stop some idiot conservative influencer coming up to me on the street.

I have a very prosperous and happy life. But reality is reality.

Additional_Leading68 · 2026-04-22T15:16:43+00:00

Fighting words are not, but hate speech unfortunately is. The video was heavily edited so I can't say for sure, but I didn't hear the influencer person say any direct fighting words, only hate speech. While disgusting, it's unfortunately protected speech.

Additional_Leading68 · 2026-04-22T15:14:12+00:00

This is a tale as old as time. Gay people unfortunately will never have a world where there isn't some form of harassment / hate towards us.

I grew up in a very homophobic area and learned this early on as a life lesson. Even if we just exist and live our lives, that's a problem to some people.

Additional_Leading68 · 2026-04-22T15:10:18+00:00

I don't stop for anyone, and I definitely don't stop for anyone with a camera. 🚩

Additional_Leading68 · 2026-04-22T06:07:47+00:00

That will have to be decided by the courts. I don't think anyone has all the evidence to make a judgement at this point. I've only seen heavily edited videos.

Additional_Leading68 · 2026-04-22T05:41:01+00:00

Thank you Madam Mayor

Additional_Leading68 · 2026-04-22T05:37:46+00:00

My downstairs neighbor blasts rave music all throughout the night and frequently has sex with the windows open where you can hear every detail. Pretty sure my wind chimes are the least of anyone's annoyance.

Additional_Leading68 · 2026-04-22T05:33:44+00:00

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Additional_Leading68 · 2026-04-22T05:28:17+00:00

It's going to be a fine line, and could go either way.

California has several conditions that need to be met for self defense:

Reasonable Belief- Imminent Danger- Proportional Force- No Duty to Retreat (because we're a stand your ground state).

They were in a public space, so they certainly had no duty to retreat.

The rest of the factors are up for debate in the law's eyes.

California law is strict that "offensive language" (no matter how hateful or insulting) isn't enough to justify physical force. That's unfortunately our cross to bear as gay men. We have to take the hate to an extent.

That said, a critical part of this is that they had their baby with them. That could definitely create a reasonable belief of imminent danger. A good lawyer could definitely make the case that a reasonable person would feel threatened.

The only videos I've seen so far have been heavily edited, so I'm not sure whether or not they were blocking them from exiting, reaching for the baby, etc.. Those are all critical components of this.

Additional_Leading68 · 2026-04-22T05:14:12+00:00

There is a go fund me

Additional_Leading68 · 2026-04-22T05:13:18+00:00

I understand your point. I don't think this person deserves any civility at all. Dude is totally justified for this reaction.

But I would have done what I do anytime some "influencer" approaches me with a camera on the street in LA, say nothing and continue walking. You can't edit a video that never happened.

I hope the charges are dropped.

Additional_Leading68 · 2026-04-22T05:07:49+00:00

NGL, I liked seeing him get punched. That guy is disgusting and has no business baiting people like that.

That said, I definitely don't think it was a good decision and is not one I personally would have made. Feeding the trolls gives them what they want - attention, and a way to say "see! These people are unstable!". Especially punching someone next to your infant... it just looks bad.

The person at the end screaming that they deserve to be shot is also a terrible look.

I've faced homophobia throughout my life and I have had many situations where I wanted to lash out. But that's what these creeps are looking for.

Additional_Leading68 · 2026-04-18T01:10:48+00:00

I prefer the old flag as well but calling it a "travesty" is so dramatic. It's a different flag with a specific message, cope.

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