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Loading ...Gay man fights for life after homophobic attack
09.04.2008 4:19pm EDT
(London) Three teenagers are in police custody following a vicious unprovoked attack in East London that has left a gay man in hospital fighting for his life.
The 20-year old victim, whose name is being withheld by police for his protection, was stabbed seven times.The attacked occurred as the man and his female friend were walking towards a gay-friendly bar. Police said five teens swarmed the victim and the woman. They yelled homophobic taunts at the man, before beating him over the head with a bottle and then stabbing him in the back and torso.
He was rushed to Royal London hospital where he underwent emergency surgery and was listed Thursday in serious condition.
Investigators are continuing to search for two other teens involved in the attack. They said that the teens could be charged with attempted murder, but that could be upgraded to murder if the victim succumbs to his injuries.
“What we’re concentrating on is tracking down and bringing to justice the people who committed this evil crime,” Det. Insp. Howard Way told the local newspaper The East London Advertiser.
It was the 47th homophobic attack in East London in the past 12 months.
Local politicians appealed for calm in the area’s substantial gay community, as demands for greater police protection rose on Thursday.
“This is a sickening and vile assault,” said George Galloway, the Member of Parliament for the area.
“A near fatal knife attack on a defenseless man is horrific enough. The fact that this also appears to be a homophobic hate crime compounds the evil.”
Me thinks what Mark is trying to do is get gay Americans to be more appreciative of what they have. Yes there is room for improvement, but to go so far as to defend Cuba when that country has spent a lifetime putting homosexuals in prisons and mental hospitals is a bit over the top, no?? Gay people in America, despite the rherotic, are amazingly free, yes??? ……. And the other poster I also agree with—how on this planet does a brutal gay bashing in England turn into a discussion of what’s wrong with America???? YoW!!!! Weird!!! Some gays are just too caught up in playing the victim to count their blessings. I’m happy to live in America, warts and all. You can have your Europe and Cuba!
If anyone was defending Cuba, I suppose you could blame this site since that article I spoke of was published here. I merely pointed out a fact. If stating a truth is “defending Cuba” then you read way too much into my statement, or didn’t read it at all and just saw the word Cuba and decided to go off on a tangent.
I am from Australia and I have lived in the United States over 8 years and I can say that even compared to Australia gays in America have it quite well, and I do notice quite a lot of gays in the United States complaining when they really should be celebrating. I have personally gotten rather winded with so much bellyaching. I will say I feel much freer as a gay man in the states than in Australia or even Canada where I lived for 2 years. Having said that, what on earth does a discussion about gay life in America have to do with the rising violence against gays in Britain which is what this article is about. I feel for this unfortunate man and I hope that he can pull through!!?
Damn, if gay guys can’t even get along, how on earth are we to expect straight people to get along with us? Obviously there are strong political views on issues but few people on this subject have said anything rational.
TigerTzu, just for the record you are the one going off on tangents. You are a typical left wing nutjob.
Debbie Downer Said: “TigerTzu, just for the record you are the one going off on tangents. You are a typical left wing nutjob.”
I have went off on no tangent, but my remarks addressed a very specific point. If you fail to see that, then the fault is your own. Again, another who cannot make rational arguements resorts to name calling and insults. I must laugh at such feeble attempts.
Kyle Said: “Damn, if gay guys can’t even get along, how on earth are we to expect straight people to get along with us? Obviously there are strong political views on issues but few people on this subject have said anything rational.”
Very rarely will you find members of any group who all agree upon everything. That being said, I would suggest that those who resort to insults and name-calling, rather than using logic and reason to validate or dispute a point are, in fact, not gay at all but rather our enemy in disguise attempting to sow discontent amongst our ranks. Personal attacks neither solve nor prove anything, they only attempt to draw us to their level out of anger. We should not give in to such baiting, but rather recognize the wolves in sheepskins for what they are.
P.S. Kyle this is not directed at you personally as you have merely stated your opinion. I just chose to make this response in reply to your statement, with which I also agree.
Jack the Ripper was from the eastend also. White Chapel it was.
London is a very dangerous city in case you have noticed. The Olympics will be there in 2012.
When friends cant even go to a pub without fear of attack, what does this tell us. My hope and sincere best wishes for this young bloke and his girl friend.
No place is exempt from random violence these days. You have to be alert all the time. What does Canada, Cuba{?} or America have to do specifically with this story?
The same thing happened to my friend in Dallas, TX only he acted to defend himself against his attackers. The police arrested him instead, called him a barrage of homophobic slurs in the 2 days he spent in the Dallas County jail and charged him with assault all for defending himself against a hate crime. He lost his job once they found out about his incarceration and ended up in a homeless shelter due to the fact that his radically religious parents thought the whole nightmare was gods punishment upon him for being gay. His family totally turned their backs on him. At least in London the police will take sides against homophobia. In america we aren’t so lucky, we have to accept our beatings or face imprisonment and torment.