A crowdfunding campaign has been initiated to aid a homosexual man in Florida who, after being savagely assaulted by two individuals uttering homophobic slurs earlier this month, is now facing an accumulation of medical costs due to severe injuries.
Greg Breidenbach, a much-loved flight attendant with American Airlines, was ambushed while returning home in Miami’s Coconut Grove neighborhood on the night of July 8. He recalls being brutally beaten to the ground by two men shouting derogatory terms before losing consciousness.
“In the onslaught, I remember being repeatedly punched, kicked in my back, and being constantly berated with a homophobic slur,” Breidenbach confided to local ABC affiliate WPLG.
Police officers found him unconscious on the street and transported him to a nearby hospital.
According to Breidenbach, “From what the police have told me, they found me barely dressed, lying in the street. My cheekbone is completely smashed, my orbital bone is split in half, and my nasal cavity is fractured and detached from the sinus cavity.”
Breidenbach underwent facial reconstruction surgery on July 12. The procedure left him with multiple metal plates in his face and necessitated a minimum of two months off work.
A well-known figure within the local LGBTQ+ community, Breidenbach serves on the board of directors of the Women’s Club of Coconut Grove as the bingo chair and takes part in the annual Mango Strut parade.
Breidenbach’s friends, who characterize him as extroverted, lively, and always ready to assist others, are now trying to reciprocate by creating a GoFundMe page (@greg-breidenbachs-road-to-recovery) to help mitigate his escalating medical and living expenses while he’s unable to work.
The GoFundMe campaign has garnered over $24,000, surpassing the original target of $20,000. Many of the contributors to Breidenbach’s recovery fund are his colleagues from American Airlines.
Breidenbach is determined to share his experience both as a cautionary tale against hate crimes and as a statement of defiance.
“Did I somehow invite this upon myself? Was I too flamboyant? Was I too joyful?” he questioned during an interview with local Fox affiliate WSVN. He then dismissed these thoughts, stating, “No, that’s not it. There are simply malicious individuals in the world.”
Those with any information concerning the assault are encouraged to contact Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS. Those providing tips can stay anonymous and might be eligible for a reward of up to $5,000.
