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UK -- His face is bloodied and bruised, but the victim of the latest homophobic attack in Brighton, England says it won't change his life.
Joe, a 39-year-old hotel worker, was knocked to the ground and repeatedly kicked in the head early yesterday.
He was left with deep cuts and bruises covering his face, but he insisted the ordeal would not change the way he leads his life.
He said: "I am a fairly strong character. I won't be deterred and won't change the way I live. But something has to be done to stamp out this sort of thing.
"Attacks seem to be on the increase, not just on homosexuals. Ask my neighbours. They are all too frightened to leave their homes after dark.
"There are homosexuals, transvestites, all kinds of people in this town. Why shouldn't they be left in peace to lead the life they want to lead? We are all humans."
Joe was walking home near the junction of St James's Street and Manchester Street at 2.15am when he was set upon.
Recovering at his Kemp Town home today, Joe said: "I've lived in this town for ten years and it has definitely got worse. Most gay people I know have had trouble."
Joe praised Brighton police for the way they handled his case, but he called for more officers on the streets to cover the St James's Street area and around clubs and pubs.
Detective Chief Inspector Martin Cheeseman, head of Brighton CID, said £1 million was being spent on an anti-victimisation unit to track down homophobic offenders in Brighton.
He said: "Extra patrols have been set up in the St James's Street area as well."
Police have appealed for witnesses to the latest attack. Both offenders were white and in their early twenties.
One was 5ft 9in tall with close-cropped fair hair. He wore a light-coloured hooded top with a logo.
The other was taller with short fair hair and wore light-coloured clothes.
Contact Detective Constable Willie Carson on 0845 6070 999.
The attack on Joe comes amid increasing concern about gay assaults.
On Tuesday we reported how Sussex Ambulance divisional commander Terry Wing was robbed in a homophobic assault in North Street, Brighton.
Earlier this year a 42-year-old man suffered serious head injuries when he tried to stop a gay assault on a 29-year-old man in St James's Street, Brighton. Two youths have been charged with attempted murder.
Last Wednesday at 4.20pm a 23-year-old man was attacked outside the Barley Mow pub in St George's Road by two men.
And two men were attacked and threatened with a knife at Duke's Mound, a popular meeting place for gays near Brighton Marina.
Copyright © 2000 Newsquest Media Group - A Gannett Company.
Source : Obtained from
gaywired.com
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