Friends of a San Francisco queer artist set up a GoFundMe for him after he was injured during an assault near his home in the Tenderloin neighborhood. The artist, Diego Gomez, may be known to readers as he designed the Bay Area Reporter's 2016 Pride cover.
When asked what he'd like people to know, Gomez, 43, told the B.A.R., "don't punch people in the face that didn't do anything to you." He spent his October 2 birthday in the hospital.
The GoFundMe has raised over $35,000 of a $40,000 goal as of October 8. In an Instagram post October 7, Gomez explained what it was that had happened the night of September 30.
"I was walking my dog and noticed a young girl in a car and thought, 'Is she being trafficked?' Someone immediately walked toward me and said, 'That's really weird [you're] looking at her, I should punch you.' That's the last thing I remember," Gomez stated in the post. "Apparently I [was] assaulted near my home in the Tenderloin, my nose and ear was filled with blood. Luckily, the ambulance brought my dog with me."
San Francisco Police Department Public Information Officer Eve Laokwansathitaya confirmed Gomez's account in a statement to the B.A.R. October 7.
"On September 30, 2024, at approximately 9:20 p.m., San Francisco police officers responded to the 700 block of O'Farrell Street on a report of an assault," Laokwansathitaya stated. "Upon arrival, officers made contact with the victim, whom they found sitting on the sidewalk with blood all over his face and hands. Medics arrived on scene to render aid and transport the victim to a local hospital to treat his non-life threatening injuries."
Laokwansathitaya stated that "through the course of the investigation, officers learned that when the victim was walking westbound on O'Farrell Street, an unknown male suspect approached the victim and punched him, causing the victim to fall to the ground. The suspect then fled from the area."
Gomez stated that he was sent to the neurological intensive care unit at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center, "where I was being treated for multiple facial fractures, possible concussion, and 'blood in my brain.'"
Gomez told the B.A.R. he is recuperating at his parents' house and has been in and out of the hospital.
"It's hard for me to walk, get up, sit down, sleep, my memory is blurry; my headache is in almost constant pain, I can't chew cause my jaw hurts & I'm on lots of medications," he stated.
The GoFundMe was set up by Lauri Green, a friend of Gomez's who didn't return a request for comment. Green stated on the GoFundMe page that "we want to rally around him in this time of need."
"Diego has a long road to recovery ahead of him, and we are unsure when he will be able to return to work," Green continued. "Medical bills and living expenses in San Francisco can be overwhelming, and we want to ensure he has the support he needs to focus on healing."
Gomez earns income from illustrations, design, makeup commissions, and Etsy merchandise, which "is not possible at this time" of his recovery, he stated. He also teaches at City College of San Francisco but can't due to six weeks of rest his doctor is suggesting.
In addition to the B.A.R. Pride cover, Gomez's art has been featured throughout the city, such as at Hot Cookie at 1817 Polk Street, and in murals on the rooftop of Oasis at 298 11th Street, and at 2352 Market Street.
No arrests have been made in the case, which is still an open and active investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact the SFPD at (415) 575-4444 or text a tip to TIP411 and begin the message with SFPD.
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