Beaten for being gay

PORTAGE, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) – A Portage teen has a skull fracture and other injuries after he was attacked and beaten up last week.

He says he was beaten because he's gay.

15-year-old Steven Harmon was hanging out with a friend when he says two 17-year-olds attacked him in the parking lot at Walnut Trail Apartments.

Harmon's friend helped fight off the attackers.

Stephen is now recovering from several injuries.

"Swelling, bruising, fractures, a busted lip. Stuff like that," said Steven Harmon.

"This is going to stop. If his friend wasn't there it could have put him into a coma or killed him," said Harmon's mother Lynette Rocha.

Harmon says he recently told his family and friends he is gay.

He says that while the attack may have caused a lot of physical pain, he is still staying strong.

"You did not break my spirit. I'm still standing here today and I am what I am," said Harmon.

One person has been arrested for the assault.

Harmon's family tells us the county prosecutor plans on taking this case to court as a hate crime.