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By Luke Traynor (LIVERPOOL,UK) Nov 23 | A teenager in Liverpool told of how he was battered by thugs because he is gay.
The 19-year-old spoke out about the attack just hours ahead of a huge anti-homophobia march in the city centre.
The Liverpool Community College student was set upon at 7pm on Wednesday as he walked to catch a train at James Street station.
Spotting the colourful and flamboyantly-dressed Wirral man, an eight strong gang pounced on him in Lord Street, hurling homophobic abuse and beating him up.
The teenager, who does not wish to be named, was left covered in blood while the mob, aged only 12-14, fled the scene.
He has a broken nose and is due to undergo surgery next week.
A couple of good Samaritans helped him before he got the train alone back to Spital, crying for 30 minutes all the way home.
Tomorrow, thousands are expected to attend the march against homophobia, along The Strand to the New Picket and a prominent figures in Liverpool’s gay community will speak at St George’s Plateau.
The attack on the teenager follows the assault on gay Merseyside Police constable James Parkes, 22, who was left fighting for his life after a beating outside Superstar Boudoir, on Stanley Street, last month.
Today, the 19-year-old told the ECHO: “Sadly, it’s something that happens all the time in Liverpool, I expect it now.
“I was bombarded with punches, I didn’t know where they were coming from. They were shouting, ‘what the **** are you wearing?!’
“I can’t even get on the train without suffering abuse. It’s everywhere I go. I wear colourful stuff, and lipstick, but if I didn’t it would be restricting how I want to be.”
The Wirral A-Level pupil said he has suffered other violent attacks in Liverpool city centre including one during the summer when the teenager was karate kicked in the back by thugs on Church Street.
Just before Christmas youths spat in his mum’s face as they walked together to Central Station.
And the 19-year-old’s ex-boyfriend needed extensive surgery to reconstruct his eyesockets, and required metal plates in his face, after a savage beating as he left Chicago nightclub, on Victoria Street, 18 months ago.
His outraged mum added: “My son’s been up sick all night, but he says they’re not going to win and keep him at home.”
Merseyside Police said homophobic crime would not be tolerated and a spokeswoman said: “We treat all allegations of hate crime very seriously and we would encourage all victims to come forward and report incidents to us.
“There has traditionally been an under-reporting of offences, and we have a dedicated Sigma hate crime units who deal with these type of complaints.”
Tommy McIlravey, chairman of the city’s Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender community, told the ECHO hate crime was on the rise in Liverpool. He said: “It’s very sad this teenager’s almost acceptance of violence, and he’s resigned to it.
“It has felt slightly edgy around Stanley Street recently. Visible policing is important as it reduces attacks and people feel more comfortable.
“Homophobia is prevalent in Merseyside schools, particularly the use of the word ‘gay’ as an adjective
“Unfortunately a gay person is seen as a soft target for people who want to prove how much of a ‘man’ they are.”
Liverpool council leader Warren Bradley said today:
“Our city prides itself on our rich, diverse culture and we will not stand for violent attacks. We are proud to support the anti-homophobic march.”
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timmy
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Has no life at all |
Location: UK, in Devon
Registered: February 2003
Messages: 13800
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The question that keeps going through my mind is to ask why it is essential to wear clothing and makeup that attracts these idiots to let fly with their fists.
There is a weird tribal mentality in some areas, and seeing anyone who is different is likely to antagonise the empty headed violent arsewipes. The perpetrators were aged 12-14. This is the age of imbecility.
No-one condones violence against any group or individual. The perpetrators should be put away. But why go out of one's way to antagonise them by looking odd?
Most gay men who wear makeup haven't a clue how to apply it! It's meant to enhance your looks, not turn you into a circus clown. And if this poor lad's was that obvious...
Yes, we should all be able to walk the streets without fear of attack, but we all carry the responsibility for keeping ourselves safe 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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Tom McIlravey wrote:
>“Homophobia is prevalent in Merseyside schools, particularly the use of the word ‘gay’ as an adjective<
Well, it is an adjective.
Hugs
N
I dream of boys with big bulges in their trousers,
Never of girls with big bulges in their blouses.
…and look forward to meeting you in Cóito.
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No Message Body
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: 13800
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I do not disagree with your wise and brief remark. How could I?
All I want to point out is that this freedom is not yet won. Or, rather, it may be won, but it is contested with violence at times. Pragmatism is important in the exercising of freedoms.
The truly strange thing is that, in the 1970s, I wore clothes that marked me out as ordinary that would, today, mark me out as gay.
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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What clothes would those be then, Timmy?
Love,
Anthony
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timmy
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Has no life at all |
Location: UK, in Devon
Registered: February 2003
Messages: 13800
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Think Carnaby Street.
Crushed velvet flares, figure hugging, spectacular shirts, suede jerkins, unbelievably tight jeans, flower power stuff.
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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Well, I used to dress like that too but never thought of is as being obviously gay. Of course the word hadn't been invented and the acts were illegal so maybe I was fooling myself. Probably was. Probably still am!
Love,
Anthony
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Timmy said:
"Or, rather, it may be won, but it is contested with violence at times. Pragmatism is important in the exercising of freedoms."
I really wasn’t trying to be a wise a**. But I just don’t know were else to go, I mean I don’t understand evil, it persist across the board towards all nature of human being, for color for tribe for political beliefs.
I have never hidden who and what I am, and though I am not as venerable as some I have been subjected a kind of evil. We live in a confused world, so do we hide or suffer the slings and arrows in the name of freedom?
I am sorry that some so young have paid the ultimate price while here I am, old by comparison. I am grateful that the attempt to destroy who I am, not my life failed.
It has been said over and over freedom does come at a cost!
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: 13800
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I half understand evil. It happens because it's fun.
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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