Another gay ‘hate crime’ hoax: ‘Victim’ injured himself with a somersault
MISSOULA, August 9, 2012, – In yet another example of an alleged “ hate crime ” unraveling, a young homosexual whose tale of abuse became a national issue has admitted he made the whole thing up. Joseph Baken admitted in court today that he had perpetrated a hoax by telling police three men had beaten him because he was homosexual, lacerating his face. A photo of Joseph Baken's bruised face went viral, but it turns out that the story behind where Baken got the bruises was a hoax. Baken initially said he entered the Missoula Club last Saturday to celebrate his 22nd birthday, announced he was gay, and asked for directions to a gay bar. He called the police three hours later, at 4:30 a.m, saying a man had lured him outside to smoke a cigarette, where two other men joined him beating Baken and called him a “f—-ot.” The website WipeOutHomophobia.com announced its immediate support for the young man. Within hours, the Facebook post showing his bruised face had