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By Brody Levesque (Washington DC) Oct 26 | Police in Liverpool, UK are investigating an attack on a 22 year old Gay Man by 13 individuals Sunday evening at around 10PM. According to a report published today by the Liverpool Echo Newspaper, the victim is in hospital today in critical condition with life threatening injuries.
[Related Photo]
From the Liverpool Echo's correspondent Samantha Parker comes this report:
A GAY man is fighting for his life today following a vicious gang beating in Liverpool city centre.
The 22-year–old was attacked by up to 13 people at 10pm last night when out with three friends on Stanley Street. He is currently in hospital with multiple skull fractures, a fractured eye socket and a fractured cheek bone. Three youths, two aged 15 and another aged 14, from Kirkdale have been arrested in connection with the incident.
Stanley Street will remained closed until police forensics have completed their investigations.
A spokeswoman for Merseyside Police said:
"We were called to reports of a serious assault on Stanley Street at 10pm last night. The victim was taken to hospital with serious head injuries. He has suffered multiple fractures to his skull, a fractured cheek bone and a fractured eye socket. We are treating the incident as a homophobic attack. We believe from witnesses there may have been up to 13 people involved in the attack aged 15–18. Three youths from Kirkdale have been arrested on suspicion of assault in connection with the incident. There are two aged 15 and a 14 year–old.
The road will remain closed until the forensic teams have completed their investigations. Once residents leave their premises we are asking that they don’t return until later today. We are trying to preserve the crime scene as much as possible.”
Stanley Street is at the centre of Liverpool’s gay culture, with several gay friendly bars and plans for it to grow to rival Manchester’s famous Canal Street.
The attack comes just a week before the opening of Liverpool’s annual gay festival, Homotopia. In its sixth year, it is branded Homotopia NOT Homophobia for 2009. Its Facebook site today said: “This has to stop. Enough is enough.”
Director Gary Everett said:
"This is devastating to wake up to. I am really very shocked. For the past five years we have raised money to work closely with schools, the media and the wider community to get out how homophobia ruins lives. This is exactly what we have been working to avoid. My heart goes out to this man and I wish him a speedy recovery."
DCI Tim Keelan, said: [Liverpool Police]
"I would appeal to anyone who may have information which could help us to catch those responsible for this despicable crime to come forward. Intensive inquires are taking place and we are currently examining CCTV footage from around the time of the incident to identifythose responsible. We are treating the assault as a homophobic hate crime and this incident shows there are still some people who have not learnt that crimes of this type are completely unacceptable. People who commit hate crimes can expect the full attention of the police and we will not rest until the offenders are brought to justice. The offenders will learn their lesson the hard way.We have stepped up high visibility patrols in the area to reassure the public and we would urge the community to help us with our enquiries and find those responsible."
He added:
"Merseyside Police is commited to taking robust and positive action when investigating hate crimes. The force has a number of specialist Sigma Investigation Units, which provide support for victims whilst at the same time taking action to arrestand prosecute offenders. The Sigma Unit in Liverpool North is involved in this investigation and will be working with the victim in this case."
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This is very sad as all violent crimes are; the saddest part is that we live in a world where life seems to be held far too cheep.
I’m not trying to minimize the conversations about hate crimes in any way, but the key word here is hate. What a strange thing but it crosses all lines I mean look at the genocide that has ripped through the world, for what, they were not of the same tribe, different religion, different color, the shoes you wear?
People are killing without regard, I am afraid we are facing a problem that runs so deep that it is hard for people to see.
Personally I think it’s because most people don’t know how to love them selves in an appropriate way, it is the only way one could ever love another. If you love your self you wouldn’t want to be harmed and to know love in this way I don’t think you would want to harm others. Love is the key, it is the only hope. This can not be legislated. There have been laws against murder from time immemorial, has this stopped murders?
:'-(
People will tell you where they've gone
They'll tell you where to go
But till you get there yourself you never really know
Where some have found their paradise
Other's just come to harm
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timmy
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Has no life at all |
Location: UK, in Devon
Registered: February 2003
Messages: 13796
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Even with this and the other incident in Trafalgar Square, I am still sure that the UK is a very safe and tolerant nation in which to be gay.
One of the things that will help is schools and PSE lessons. My wife, as a teacher, teaches her 6 year old classes that differences are wonderful and are to be celebrated, not feared, and not bullied over. She doesn't mention sexuality at all to kids of this age since, except rarely, it has not manifested itself. Instead she majors on making sure that all differences are understood at conceptual level, and are celebrated.
At six the kids are conscious of race, but only just. They are more conscious about looks.
An excellent example os the poor little lad who was suddenly shy of getting changed for swimming. His mother said that he had just undergone a medical circumcision, and was very worried that other little boys would stare because he was different. So she gave the class the "differences" lesson a few weeks early, and not aimed at him at all. With him she simply advised that he face away form the others until he was comfortable, and to come to her if anyone was horrid to him.
As usual it worked.
We hope that this lesson sticks when it comes to sexuality, too.
Author of Queer Me! Halfway Between Flying and Crying - the true story of life for a gay boy in the Swinging Sixties in a British all male Public School
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JimB
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Likes it here |
Registered: December 2006
Messages: 349
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I doubt that Ian Baynham would agree with you, Timmy. Unfortunately he can't voice his opinion as he is the 62 year-old man beaten in Trafalgar Square who died after 18 days on life-support. And the man currently in hospital with multiple scull fractures, what would he say if he could? Scotland Yard seems to disagree with you also. They have seen a near 20% increase in homophobic crimes in the past year.
Here is a quote from a pub owner that can be found in the 22 October 2009 article about Baynham's death: Low-level homophobia is something that staff and customers have grown used to. “When our customers go home they often get abuse,” says David Pollard, the landlord. “It's something that people tend to moan about the next evening, but sometimes they say, 'I was afraid and I had to do a bit of running.'”
I know that you are proud of your country and the city you live in, Timmy. But to say “I am still sure that the UK is a very safe and tolerant nation in which to be gay” seems to put your pride above realism. I find to much disparity between David Pollard's “When our customers go home they often get abuse” and your “very safe and tolerant nation in which to be gay”.
JimB
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timmy
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Has no life at all |
Location: UK, in Devon
Registered: February 2003
Messages: 13796
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I don't live in London, you know, and I am not particularly proud of my country. But, just as one swallow does not make a summer, two gay bashings do not make a climate of homophobia.
Of course neither victim would agree with me, neither the dead man nor the seriously injured man. But neither is this Redneck Hicksbville, USA, and our police force will track the evil shits down and deal with them.
http://timtrent.blogspot.com/2009/10/appalling-brutal-pointless-and-just-not.html may interest you and others, too.
Author of Queer Me! Halfway Between Flying and Crying - the true story of life for a gay boy in the Swinging Sixties in a British all male Public School
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Macky
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Really getting into it |
Location: USA
Registered: November 2008
Messages: 973
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Timmy,
I can fully understand your conviction that UK is relatively safe for gays. I think hate might concentrate in pockets. The city where I live, possibly like your city, is very tolerant of gays. Years ago, the guy I had a relationship with told me that our gay population was on a par with much larger metro areas. I spent my 20s and half of my 30s in gay bars and cruising the street in my city. I was never spoken to unkindly. I never suffered a hate attack. In better than a decade of frequenting the city center, I only ever heard of a single hate attack. Even in that case, the police praised the victim for having the courage to come forward, because it might give other victims the courage to do so. But obviously other places are different. Perhaps places where religious and political leaders spout vitriol against people. I respect your opinions, but I feel that you are dead wrong about UK being a safer environment for gays. I would believe that of Amsterdam. That quaint city doesn't make new laws, and it is eager to ignore old laws when they are obviously off mark.
Macky
PS Please don't get mad at me. After Brody, my fragile self image can't take much more.
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is
For brothers to dwell together in unity!
Ps 133:1 NASB
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I don’t know Timmy, what you’re doing is almost like comparing apples and oranges I mean when you look at over all demography of Britain you are 86% of British white and 90+ white over all, plus there are more women than men I’m just wondering exactly what you guys really have to be intolerant of? You never in your history have had to deal with the population dynamic of just across the channel much less the dynamics of the diversity of the U.S. with a population that isn’t even a third of the U.S. or Western Europe. Let not even go into the history of when the sun never set on the empire.
So all things being taking into consideration the amounts of crime against those that don’t conform to a relatively narrow definition seem to be higher in Britain.
::-)
People will tell you where they've gone
They'll tell you where to go
But till you get there yourself you never really know
Where some have found their paradise
Other's just come to harm
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timmy
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Has no life at all |
Location: UK, in Devon
Registered: February 2003
Messages: 13796
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I bow to your knowledge of the demographics, of which I am ignorant. We feel as if we have a very high payload of non whites here, though colour should make no real difference.
I don't think one can truly look at a couple of what appear to be exception events and make a real judgment either way, though I admit to a nervousness of the lunatics starting to run the asylum.
Author of Queer Me! Halfway Between Flying and Crying - the true story of life for a gay boy in the Swinging Sixties in a British all male Public School
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timmy
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Has no life at all |
Location: UK, in Devon
Registered: February 2003
Messages: 13796
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Certainly judicial progress, but what caused the beating in the first place?
I know we don't know, but I mean the question in general terms.
Author of Queer Me! Halfway Between Flying and Crying - the true story of life for a gay boy in the Swinging Sixties in a British all male Public School
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By Brody Levesque (Washington DC) Oct 28 | The Gay Community of Liverpool, UK has announced that a vigil for Liverpool Police Rookie James Parkes will be held at 8pm on Stanley Street, where the attack took place, this coming Sunday, November 1st.
He was attacked at 10pm last Sunday while leaving the Superstar Boudoir with his partner and friends in the city's LGBT village.
Parkes, age 22, remains in critical condition in hospital. According to a spokesperson for the hospital, he is suffering from multiple fractures to his skull and cheekbone as well as some internal bruising.
In a statement released yesterday morning, his parents Ann and Ron Parkes, praised the Liverpool gay community and local police for their support. They said:
"We can't believe the ignorance of the young people who carried out the attack on someone who was just out on a night out with friends and had done nothing wrong."
The Liverpool Police Department said that Parkes began working as a police community support officer in Liverpool two years ago and joined the force as an officer in May.
Spokesperson, DCI Tim Keelan said:
"We are treating the assault as a homophobic hate crime and this incident shows there are still some people who have not learnt that crimes of this type are completely unacceptable. People who commit hate crimes can expect the full attention of the police and we will not rest until the offenders are brought to justice. The offenders will learn their lesson the hard way."
He added that patrols have been stepped up in the Stanley Street area, where the attack took place.
According to a report from Britain's pinknews' Jessica Geen;
Six boys between the ages of 14 and 17 have been arrested for the attack on Liverpool trainee policeman James Parkes.
The 13-strong gang had reportedly been shouting homophobic abuse at them before Parkes was was attacked at around 10pm.
Four boys have been released on bail, while another two, both aged 15, were detained yesterday evening.
The attack comes two weeks after the death of Ian Baynham, a 62-year-old civil servant who suffered severe head injuries in a homophobic attack in Trafalgar Square in London four weeks ago. Baynham, from Beckenham, south-east London, was punched and kicked to the ground. His attackers also shouted homophobic abuse.
Detectives have arrested two teenage girls and an 18-year-old man in connection with his murder.
James Parkes * Photo Courtesy of the City of Liverpool Police Department
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