Ohio State University student Cole Ledford claims that a shared kiss with his boyfriend led to an assault by an enraged homophobe. Before being punched in the face, he was called a fag, of course. This type of violence is all too common for LGBT people who dare be too LGB or T in public. What wasn't common was Cole's reaction to the attack.

Shortly after being punched, his left eye socket clearly swollen, Cole took to Twitter and posted a picture of his injury and a message for the person who gave it to him.

To the guy who punched me tonight for kissing my boyfriend pic.twitter.com/SMVmTpDCdL — Cole Ledford (@ColeLedford11) November 7, 2014

To the guy who punched me tonight for kissing my boyfriend,

I’m sorry that you called me fag. I’m sorry you hit me for no reason.

I’m sorry that whatever insecurities you have don’t allow you to accept others for who they are. I’m sorry that I threaten you. I’m NOT sorry I’m gay. I’m proud to be this way. I’m proud to be confident enough to love who I love and to love me. I’m proud to have friends and family that love me regardless of me. Honestly, I’m not sorry.

Boyfriend wanted to say hi and thanks for the support! Off to Cleveland to see the fam! #loveislove #youallrock pic.twitter.com/O1uZAToqKQ — Cole Ledford (@ColeLedford11) November 7, 2014

The next day, he posted on Twitter yet again, this time so he and his boyfriend could thank everyone who has sent him well-wishes and comforting thoughts.

Simply incredible. The empathy he shows his attacker for the personal demons lurking within him is empathy I don't know if I could muster. Going bravely forward, he shows that his innate dignity was in no way compromised by someone else's violent and ignorant shortcomings. It has been both touching and inspiring to the thousands of people who have picked up his Tweet and shared it since it was first posted last Thursday.

Via the Gaily Grind