Three gays attacked in Utah in two weeks

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AMERICAN FORK, Utah, Sept. 9 (UPI) -- Authorities are investigating three attacks on gays in Utah in less than two weeks.

The latest attack occurred early Thursday morning when Cameron Nelson, 32, said two or three people yelled anti-gay slurs and began beating him at an American Fork hair salon where he works, The Salt Lake Tribune reported.

Nelson, 32, was taking out the garbage at about 12:45 a.m. when he was assaulted by attackers he does not know. He said he believes they targeted him because he is gay.

The slurs were "disgusting" and the attack on Nelson "quite repugnant," American Force Police Department Sgt. Gregg Ludlow said.

Nelson was treated for a broken nose and other injuries at a hospital, Ludlow said.

In Salt Lake City, police were investigating separate Aug. 26 attacks on two other gay men.

Dane Hall, 20, was assaulted by four men as he left a club by suspects who punched him repeatedly and stomped his head, shattering his cheekbone and knocking out six teeth.

In the other attack, men broke into a gay man's apartment and beat up his boyfriend.