UPDATE: Saturday, December 1st, 2012 @ 2:00AM – Mallory Owens has released a statement and is no longer claiming that it was NOT a hate crime. In fact, she believes the entire Hawkins family has manipulated her. Here is her statement:

I am represented by attorney Christine Hernandez. I am supported by my family, friends, several organizations including Equality Alabama and GLAAD as well as numerous other individuals who have offered a multitude of support to myself and my family including all of those that have donated to help me with my medical expenses. For all of you that have supported me, I am very grateful.

The last week has been the most traumatic several days I have ever experienced, physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Not just for me, but for my family as well. Fortunately, we are a strong family, and we are sticking together as a family.  On Thanksgiving Day, I visited the Hawkins’ home, the family home of my girlfriend Ally Hawkins. As I was leaving, I was brutally attacked by Travis Hawkins Jr., Ally’s brother. I believe that he intended to kill me. I was defenseless against him. This was not the first time Travis Hawkins Jr. attacked me and sent me to the hospital.

Travis Hawkins Jr. has been charged with Assault Second Degree by the District Attorney’s office. Although, I appreciate all the efforts of the hospital and EMS staff, police, all the investigators, and District Attorney Ashley Rich, neither I nor my family agree that Assault Second Degree is the right charge. We are very hopeful and optimistic that as Ms. Rich, her office and the police continue to investigate this crime, that the charges will be upgraded to attempted Murder. I was unconscious when the beating ended. I do not know what stopped him. I do know he has threatened to kill me before, he has attacked me with a metal pipe before, and on Thanksgiving Day he launched an unprovoked attack on me that left me unconscious, hospitalized, suffering horrific head trauma, severe injuries and in need of surgery and additional treatment. Since the attack, Travis Hawkins Jr. has been seen following my family and appearing at locations where they have gathered. He has threatened to finish me off. I believe as long as he is free on bond that my life continues to be in danger. Even beyond the physical harm, I am quite traumatized. I am afraid and I feel that I have been victimized repeatedly by the Hawkins family.

The interview at the Hawkins home was not requested by me, nor was I aware that the media would be at the Hawkins home. I was brought back to the home by Ally Hawkins. I wanted to be in my own apartment. Mr. Hawkins Sr. insisted we give the interview and statements were made. I believe Mr. Hawkins Sr. is very manipulative, I believe he organized the family and orchestrated the media representation to portray himself in a better light. I do not feel safe there. I was very uneasy and nervous while I was there. I was still very disoriented, weak, and intimidated. Mr. Hawkins Sr. has also threatened me with harm based on my relationship with his daughter. Travis Hawkins Sr. threatened me with a metal pipe while I was waiting in the car on a prior occasion. Travis Hawkins Jr. used a metal pipe to assault me on a prior occasion. He and his son pose a very real threat. I will not go back there.

It will be a very long time before I feel safe again. This sort of attack whether it is proven to be a hate crime or a crime derived from one man’s hate of another human being should not happen to anyone in this country. No one should have to endure an attack the way that I did. Neither should a mother have to see her daughter in the state that my mom had to see me.

During this investigation, many statements were made to the media, some were premature and misguided. All of us involved have been at the center of a huge media storm. At this time, we want to let the investigation continue and we need to heal. Ally Hawkins has continued to release statements and make arbitrary facebook posts and she has even offered a motive for her brother’s actions. Please know that Ally Hawkins is NOT SPEAKING for me, she is NOT representing me in the media in any way. Her statements and public posts on facebook or any other form of social media are NOT representative of my opinions, beliefs or words.

I am fortunate that my family’s love for me is unconditional. I fell in love with a girl. My family loves, accepts and supports me. They have shown nothing but love and acceptance throughout my attack, my time in the hospital, and the investigation of this brutal attack, they have been there for me, loving me and supporting me. I want to thank and publicly show my appreciation for my mom, my brother and sister, my Uncle Ricky, Linda, my grandma. Besides the countless individuals who have offered their support financially and in words of kindness, I also want to thank organizations like Equality Alabama and GLAAD for offering their direct support to me and my family, as well as working to create a culture in Alabama where people aren’t attacked for being who they are and loving who they love. Thank you to all those who have prayed, supported and advocated for myself and my family. For those of you who pray, we ask you to continue to pray for us as we heal.

UPDATE: Wednesday November 28th, 2012 @ 10:30 AM – This story is very confusing. Apparently, Mallory Owens and her fiancé Ally (Alex) Hawkins, do not believe it is a hate crime. They have told news sources that they know why he did what he did, and it would come out eventually. According to Ally Hawkins, it’s too embarrassing to share, but is bound to come out at Travis Hawkins’ court hearing on December 10th, 2012. In fact, Mallory Owens is spending her time recovering at the home where she was allegedly (pretty clear she was) beaten. I will do my best to keep everyone updated as I hear more.

UPDATE: Tuesday, November 27th, 2012 – Mallory and Alex “Ally” are actually engaged. I’ve done a bit of research and they seemed to be very happy about their relationship and had no discrepancies with sharing how they felt with the world. At the bottom of this page is a very sweet photo of the two of them, along with some words they shared with one another. Please wish the best for Mallory Owens, who is still in the hospital. And who knows, maybe one day these two will actually be able to get married

The other day, I saw a photo being shared like crazy all over FaceBook. I wanted to get more information before relaying it, but I am shocked that something like this could happen to a beautiful young lady who was trying to be optimistic about her relationship and the family on whom she was involved with.
Mallory Owens went to Thanksgiving dinner at her girlfriend, Alex Hawkins’, place in Mobile, Alabama. The brother of Alex, Travis Hawkins, did not approve of the relationship that his sister and Mallory shared, and took it upon himself to punish who he felt was responsible, Miss Owens. After dinner, he approached Mallory and began beating her with his fists. Sadly, some people assumed this may be the outcome, including the victim’s mother.

‘He tried to kill her. He’s lucky he didn’t kill her. She’s lucky to be alive. I didn’t recognize her when I got here. It’s hard to look at her like that.’ – Kristi Taylor, Owens mother.

While this crime is horrific in itself, Travis Hawkins will not be charged with a hate crime. Alabama law doesn’t include sexual orientation among bias offenses, according to the Anti-Defamation League. I was appalled to hear this. Here we are fighting for the right to marry the ones we love, and yet, Alabama and 26 other states are also without hate crime laws that protect the LGBT community.

Mallory Owens has unfortunately already had to deal with abuse at the hands of Travis Hawkins. Earlier this year, he hit Owens over the head with a pipe wrench. Although she was injured, no charges were filed, and I can only assume she was hoping that they could work through that incident and move towards acceptance. Optimism was apparently not such a good idea with this family.

‘I did not want her to go, I begged her not to go, knowing how the family felt about her. But she said, “They’re trying to be nice.”

Shortly after being charged with second-degree assault, the assailant was bonded out. Hawkins also called Owens’ sister on Friday, proving that the charges had no effect on him once so ever.

Miss Owens’ sister Avery Godwin told AL.com that Hawkins called her on Friday to say ‘that he would finish what he started last night with Mallory.’

The fact that this kid has assaulted a female twice, the second time being much more severe, and stated that he wasn’t finished means that the second-degree assault charge is absolutely absurd. How is this not attempted murder?! And how do states not have hate crime laws that include the LGBT community?! If someone is hurting you simply because they dislike something about you, that is a hate crime. Simple. A young girl was BRUTALLY beaten at her girlfriend’s home on Thanksgiving day because she was dating the guy’s sister. This kid, not man, is a complete moron with no compassion. I’m not shocked unfortunately, due to his families history.

Last year, Hawkins was hospitalized after he was allegedly shot in the chest by his father, Travis Hawkins Sr.

Happy Thanksgiving!

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