Courtenay Place at night - file photo The Queer Avengers say an attack in which a gay Wellington man's cheek was broken is clearly an indication of the hatred still experienced by our communities. David Playle, 32, says his 28-year-old boyfriend Dannii's cheek was fractured when he was bashed by a group of men early on Sunday morning. The couple had been walking home from a party with a friend when someone yelled out "faggot" near the corner of Courtenay Place and Cambridge Terrace about 1.30am. They were shocked and tried to defuse the situation with friendly banter. Playle says a group of men then ran up and attacked their friend, and when his boyfriend tried to intervene they punched him in the face until he fell to the ground. Two 20-year-old men were later arrested. Queer Avenger Kassie Hartendorp says marriage equality is all very well, but we have a lot more work to do in order to feel safe on our streets. "We responded to a series of attacks a couple of years ago by forming Queer Avengers, queerphobic violence is a real problem." Another Queer Avenger, Sara Fraser, says queer bullying and queer bashings are everyone's issue. "I shouldn't be left up to us to stop this happening; we have as much right to walk the streets holding hands as anyone else, without fear for our safety." Fraser says there is a population of homeless youth in New Zealand, already shunned by family, school and friends. "Young homeless queers are already struggling; being vulnerable to street violence is putting them at higher risk, it is not acceptable. "We all need to own this problem and end it." The Queer Avengers say they will continue to challenge all forms of queerphobia.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Saturday, 23rd March 2013 - 6:34pm