Anger over prostitution and drug use was the motive for the brutal Thanksgiving Day beating of a 23-year-old Alabama lesbian, according to Ally Hawkins, girlfriend of Mallory Owens, who was attacked by Hawkins’ brother. But in a written statement today, Owens stressed that Hawkins does not speak for her and said that both her girlfriend’s brother and father had threatened her in the past.

“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,” Owens said, after noting that Hawkins’ father had also previously “threatened me with harm based on my relationship with his daughter.”

“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,” Owens said.

Travis Hawkins, Jr., Ally's brother, was arrested and charged with second degree assault following the beating. In today’s statement, Owens said she and her family believe the charge should be 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,” Owens said in the written statement. “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.”

Ally Hawkins said she believed the attack stemmed from their drug use and their short stint selling sex for money to fund drug habits. She made the allegation in a status posted to Facebook.

Following the Facebook post, Ally Hawkins spoke with Mobile Fox affiliate Fox10. She said her brother beat Owens because he was angry the couple had acted as prostitutes twice; once together and once when Owens arranged it for Hawkins to perform.

“He found out that me and Mallory had done prostitution,” Ally Hawkins told Fox10. “We were really bad on drugs. The first time we both did it together. The second time it wasn't like that. I don't blame her for it. At the end of the day I could have said 'no.'”

Following the incident, Owens' mother told local media that she believed the attack was because of her daughter's sexual orientation. When Owens spoke with media following her release from the hospital, she denied the attack was a “hate crime” and said the reasons for the attack would soon be made public.

Alabama has hate crime protections but sexual orientation and gender identity are not covered statuses.

Mobile CBS affiliate WKRG has reported that Hawkins Jr. has been in hiding since he bonded out from jail earlier this week.

The New Civil Rights Movement posted a statement today from Owens' attorney, Christine Hernandez. GA Voice requested a comment from comment from Hernandez, but she was unavailable at the time of posting. Additional comments will be added as they become available.

Official Statement from Mallory Owens and Family

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 indviduals 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 offce 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 represenation 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 occassion. Travis Hawkins Jr. used a metal pipe to assault me on a prior occassion. 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.

Owens rejected Ally Hawkins as a spokesperson in comments made to Facebook and Fox10 but did not directly dispute the drug and prostitution claims.

A fund has been created to help Owens pay for her hospital visit and the subsequent costs she'll incur from the beating. As of the time of this posting only three people had given to the cause, with just $15.00.

Top photo: Alabama lesbian Mallory Owens after allegedly being beaten on Thanksgiving at her girlfriend's house (via Facebook)