New York drag restaurant owner bashed for being gay
A New York man who owns a popular drag queen restaurant chain claims he was beaten up because he is gay - and he blames Donald Trump for the attack.
Mark Zschiesche posted an emotional video on Facebook on Sunday claiming he had been punched in the face in San Diego, California earlier that morning by a stranger.
The 54-year-old, who co-owns Lips Drag Queen Showplace Restaurant and Bar, was left bloodied and had larges bruises on his cheek and eye.
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Mark Zschiesche, 54, posted an emotional video on Facebook on Sunday claiming he was punched in the face in San Diego, California by a stranger who yelled anti-gay slurs at him
'Someone hit me in the face because I'm gay and I have never ever in my entire life experienced this,' Zschiesche said.
'I blame this on Trump and all of you that supported him,' he said repeatedly.
Zschiesche said he was walking alone through San Diego's North Park neighborhood at about 2am on Sunday when a complete stranger approached him, CBS reports.
He said the attacker called him an anti-gay slur before punching him.
The 54-year-old was left bloodied and had larges bruises on his cheek and eye following the attack on Sunday morning
Zschiesche posted an emotional video on Facebook saying he had never been attacked because of his sexuality
The shocked restaurant owner said he had never been attacked because of his sexuality.
'My personal opinion is there is a lot of hate in the air. You hate to blame, besides the person who hit me, but I blame Trump and his rhetoric,' he said.
Police are investigating the assault but the alleged attacker has not yet been found.
Zschiesche's Lips restaurant chain started in New York's West Village more than 20 years ago. They now have venues in Atlanta, Fort Lauderdale, San Diego and Chicago.
Zschiesche's Lips restaurant chain started in New York's West Village more than 20 years ago