Oshawa turned on the love last night to speak out against hatred and intolerance after two lesbians were insulted and beaten outside a school almost two weeks ago.

Community leaders, politicians, educators, families, couples and even a dog in a Santa hat rallied in the rain outside city hall to show their support for Jane Currie and her partner Anji Dimitriou.

"Peace, love, acceptance for all," the crowd of 300 chanted as close to 20 speakers urged them to turn an act of homophobia into an inspiration for change.

Cheers greeted Mayor John Gray's message: "Oshawa won't sit back and let anyone or anything sully the good name of our people."

Currie and Dimitriou were picking up their three children at Gordon B. Attersley public school on Nov. 3 when a man hurled insults and started hitting them.

"Which one of you two 'men' spoke to my kid? F------ dyke lesbians," he said, spitting in Dimitriou's face, according to Currie. Then he punched Dimitriou in the face, slamming her into their truck. When Currie rushed over, he punched her so hard her cheek split open.

A spectator said the incident, witnessed by other school kids and parents, grew out of an ongoing feud between the two parties.

Mark Scott, 43, of Oshawa, has been charged with two counts of assault causing bodily harm.

The couple believes they were attacked because they're lesbians and wants the charges treated as hate crimes.

Scott's lawyer, Mike Jacula, said in a news release that his client, who is black, has been a victim of racial and physical abuse. "The truth surrounding this incident will come to light. The parties responsible will be held accountable for the racially motivated and unprovoked attack he suffered."

Currie and Dimitriou have gathered more than 9,200 supporters on Facebook.

The days when gays and lesbians had to hide their relationships are over, said Rev. Brent Hawkes, who performed the first legal same-sex marriage in Ontario several years ago. "We say to Jane and Anji, this kind of incident will not be tolerated. You can count on us to turn this around."

With files from Oshawa This Week