4 charged with hate crimes in attack on singer

[KiwiCoromandel]

A singer suffered a broken jaw and other injuries in an attack by a group yelling anti-gay slurs, yet he hopes to perform again by the end of the month, police and his publicist said.

Kevin Aviance, 38, whose songs have topped the Billboard dance chart, is expected to be released Monday from the hospital where he underwent surgery, publicist Len Evans said.

Four people were arrested on hate-crime charges, police said.

Aviance's jaw is wired shut, but he hopes to perform in the city's Gay Pride parade at the end of the month, Evans said. The agent had said earlier that Aviance would not be able to sing at the event.

"He's going to try to get his strength back so that he can perform," he said.

Aviance's song "Alive" hit the top of the chart in 2002. His other popular songs have included "Give It Up," released in 2004, and "Din Da Da," which topped the Billboard dance chart in 1997.

A group of six or seven males attacked the singer early Saturday on a corner in Manhattan's East Village, Evans said. There were passers-by, but no one stopped to help as the attackers threw objects at him, Evans said.

Aviance performs in drag but was "dressed like a boy" when he was attacked, Evans said.

The four people arrested ranged in age from 16 to 20.

source:AP