Two former Taupo men claim they were beaten up by a mob in the town for being openly gay, the Waikato Times reports. Senior Sergeant Tony Jeurissen said police were investigating the incident but were at a disadvantage because the attack was reported a few days later. Matt and Simon Aglam say a large group attacked them on Wednesday 27th December near Finn MacCuhals pub on Tuwharetoa St. They had faced taunts about being gay while drinking at the bar. However, a Finn MacCuhals spokesperson said they had spoken to staff, patrons and other bars in Taupo and no one knew anything about the attack. The brothers had flown from Los Angeles to spend Christmas in Taupo with family and friends. On Boxing Day they went to the pub and Simon Aglam said they faced constant jibes from other patrons. "We got a lot of gay putdowns all night," he said. The pair left the bar but walked past it to get to an ATM they wanted to use. "The people on the street started calling him (Matt Aglam) `faggot' and it escalated from there. I just saw people rip off his shirt and throw him to the ground . . . so I went in to try and get him out," Simon Aglam said. Matt said the attack was barbaric. "A mob of about 40 people beat me up in public." The mob was made up of people of all ages, men and women. "It was just mob mentality. It wasn't one on one . . . they were trying to kill me." Simon Aglam said they had never been treated so badly. "Matt and I grew up here and I pretty much never want to come back here, it's kind of turned to shit. "To grow up here and have such great times, then come out and almost be killed. I lost count of how many times I was punched and drop-kicked. "I've always been gay here and it's not been a problem." Ref: Waikato Times (m)
Credit: GayNZ.com News Staff
First published: Wednesday, 3rd January 2007 - 12:00pm