A third man in West Hollywood, LA has fallen victim to what police believe to be serial gay bashers.

According to reports, a 55-year-old gay man was attacked by two men wielding a pipe and a baseball bat on Palm Avenue between Santa Monica and Sunset boulevards on early Sunday morning.

One of the attackers chanted homophobic abuse before attacking the man who was rescued by a passing taxi driver who heard his screams for help. The victim, whose name was not released was taken to hospital by the taxi driver and was later released.

Police said the two African-American men are believed to have attacked actor Trev Broudy, and his friend outside a West Hollywood restaurant on Sept. 1. Broudy, who recently appeared in a gay movie, The Fluffer, has recently come out of a coma following the attack while his friend escaped serious injury only because he was able to get away in his car. It is believed that the two suspects were accompanied by a driver.

Men fitting the same description as Broudy's attackers wielding a bat and a pipe attacked another man walking up Hilldale shortly an hour after Broudy's ordeal. He escaped with just bruises to his back and head by running down Hilldale to Santa Monica Boulevard.

Police are investigating all three attacks as hate-crimes.

A total of 238 hate crimes were reported against gays, lesbians and transsexuals in 2001, a 9-percent increase from 2000, according to the Los Angeles County Human Relations Commission.