SALEM, N.H. – SDGLN fitness expert Scott Herman, a straight ally known for his support of anti-bullying campaigns and other causes facing the LGBT community, says he was the target of bullying and intimidation last week in his hometown of Salem.

Two 21-year-old men – Dean Bidgood and Michael Leavitt, both of Atkinson, N.H. – face multiple charges in the road rage case, according to the Eagle-Tribune in North Andover, Mass. Another man not involved in the incident was charged with marijuana possession.

“Some of you may already know that I was involved in a road rage attack Thursday night, which led to a high-speed chase around my home town and three arrests,” Herman told SDGLN.

“Two men came into my vehicle and tried their best to taunt me to come outside and fight them. I was in my 2011 Toyota Scion xB, which is wrapped with my name, logo and photo, so I believe I was targeted,” he said.

SDGLN readers may recall that Herman competed last month in California in the annual AIDS/LifeCycle Ride to End AIDS, and that he drove his Toyota from Massachusetts to the West Coast. The Scott Herman Fitness biking team, which included SDGLN office manager Eddie Reynoso, biked 545 miles over seven days to raise money and awareness in the fight against AIDS.

The 26-year-old Herman, known for his incredible abs and cheerful encouragement to his fans to get fit, produces a weekly exercise video that is published by SDGLN on Thursdays.

Herman gained widespread fame after he was cast on MTV’s popular reality-TV show, “The Real World – Brooklyn.” He bonded with the show’s transgender cast mate, paving the way for his advocating for LGBT equality.

In the road rage incident, Herman told the local newspaper that he resisted the taunts of his tormentors to avoid a fight.

“…Violence is not the answer, but forgiveness is,” Herman told SDGLN.

“I believe that in my plight for anti-bullying, a situation such as this will only help me get my message out to other victims of bullying that doing the right thing and having the courage to do it is what will make you a better person,” he said.

Herman said he was bullied in his youth, which is one of the reasons he is so adamant about supporting anti-bullying efforts. LGBT youth are bullied four times as often as their peers, studies have found.

“I take my involvement with the LGBT Community on anti-bullying very seriously, which is why I spoke out,” Herman said.