In the 70s a gay vigilante group went around San Francisco scaring “all those young punks who have been beating up my f*ggots!”

The Lavender Panthers patrolled the streets of San Francisco at night protecting gays. They were formed after a gay reverend was severely beaten. They patrolled the streets with red spray paint, billy clubs, chains, and whistles. The vigilantes had documented 300 assaults on gays in just 6 months.

They said that homosexuals wouldn’t file with the police, because they’d be accused of propositioning their assailant. Many of the assaults were by teenage gang members. Aside from protecting their fellow homosexuals physically, the Lavender Panthers also sought to break the stereotype that gay men are sissies and wimps.

(Source)