( CNN ) -- The beating of a gay man during a gay pride festival in Detroit over the weekend was caught on camera . Christin Howard , a 20-year-old hair dresser , was attacked by a group of men on Detroit 's Riverwalk during the Motor City Pride event on Sunday . A video shot by a bystander shows the group kicking and punching Howard . Christin told CNN affiliate WXYZ he was taking a picture with a friend when things suddenly turned violent . A group of men began to `` gay bash '' him , he said , hurling anti-gay slurs his way . Then they started to physically attack him . `` I just thought I was going to die . At one point I thought they were going to kill me , '' Howard said . The attack left Howard bruised with a bloody eye , cuts and a broken finger , leaving him unable to sleep or work . David Wait , chair of Motor City Pride , called the incident troubling , adding that he 'd noticed `` record attendance on Sunday and we took steps to increase security . '' Wait praised police for their `` swift efforts '' at investigating the crime . Other advocates for the LGBT community in Michigan say this attack means there is more work to do . `` No one should have to endure an attack like Christin Howard did ... pride celebrations offer people in our communities an opportunity to feel safe in expressing our authentic selves , '' said Yvnoone Siferd , director of victim services for Equality Michigan . As for Howard , he is on the fence about returning to the festival next year . `` I 'm kind of iffy about it now , because I do n't want that same incident to happen again , '' he said . `` What if the same guys ( are ) down there ? '' The Detroit Police Department is investigating and calls the attack a hate crime . `` We know about the video . We are seeking public assistance in identifying people in the video , '' said Nicole Kirkwood , a public information officer for the Detroit Police Department .
Police reported beating of 20-year - old man at Detroit gay pride festival . Group of men kicked and punched man when he was taking pictures with a camera . Detroit police are investigating the incident as a hate crime .