In September 2019, Pol’ Atteu, a gay fashion designer, was violently assaulted at a charity fashion show in Los Angeles by a man upset that his daughter was not chosen to participate. Five years later, Atteu is finally receiving justice.
The assault caused Atteu to spend two days in the hospital with a concussion, a broken shoulder, bruises, and other injuries. His attacker, Jesus Rodolfo Zepeda, was captured, but due to COVID-19-related jail measures, he was released shortly after.
The attack happened at Saint John’s Cathedral in Los Angeles, backstage at a fashion show organized to support the organization Make-A-Wish. The event was also featured in the reality television show of the couple, Gown and Out in Beverly Hills. Zepeda’s nine-year-old daughter was removed from the show by Atteu.
This week, Zepeda was given a five-year state prison sentence for the assault. The sentence also involves probation after his jail time and requires close monitoring of Zepeda’s behavior, with immediate imprisonment for even minor violations during probation. It also includes a 10-year protection order for both Atteu and his husband, Patrik Simpson.
Atteu and Simpson believe the justice system did not treat them fairly by hesitating to label the attack as a hate crime, although it eventually recognized it as one. Zepeda repeatedly used homophobic slurs during the assault.
“I don’t feel like I got justice,” Atteu said in an interview with The Advocate. “I don’t believe we were able to find a solution, and I understand that it had to comply with the law's guidelines, but it didn’t protect me or help me.”
Ensuring that the courts acknowledged it as a hate crime was important to Atteu. “It was crucial for us to draw attention to it and ensure that this was, indeed, recognized as a hate crime, as it was,” he stated.
The courts recognizing the assault as a hate crime was significant for the couple, not only for legal reasons, but also as a way to support the LGBTQ+ community, which often faces challenges when dealing with the criminal justice system.
Atteu and Simpson intend to use this experience to advocate for other LGBTQ+ individuals going through similar struggles, so they don’t have to endure the same lengthy legal battle that they did.
“I want to see if I can advocate for others and maybe provide them with insight into how it could be done, what paperwork needs to be completed, and where they can go to get the help they need,” Atteu expressed.
