New homophobic aggression in Paris. Two men kissing in a VTC were hit by the driver. A rally is scheduled Sunday in Paris to protest against the series of attacks on several homosexuals in recent weeks.
The facts took place on the night of Sunday 14 to Monday, October 15, around 1am, in the 12th arrondissement of Paris. According to our colleagues from Paris, two men, passengers of a VTC exchanged a kiss on the back seat of the vehicle. The driver would have stopped the vehicle to get them out "stating that he does not carry people like" them ", reports against colleague.
Struck while trying to get their luggage in the trunk of the VTC
The driver then prevented the couple from picking up their luggage from the trunk of the car and punched one of the men and kicked the other man. A passer-by would have mingled by uttering insults and spitting on them. The two men complained to the 12th police station.
This act is unfortunately only another episode of the series of homophobic attacks recorded in France. On September 18, the comedian Arnaud Gagnoud was violently assaulted in front of a theater of the 20th arrondissement of Paris. He was insulted and beaten after hugging his mate in the street. On October 6, another couple was assaulted while kissing each other. One of the perpetrators was sentenced to one year in prison. On 16 October, the president of Urgence Homophobie, Guillaume Mélanie, was also the victim of an aggression He broadcast on his Twitter account an impressive photo of his face with a broken nose in the emergency room during the night. An investigation has been opened.
Homophobic attacks on the rise in France
The capital is not the only one concerned. In Besançon (Doubs) this summer, six people were taken into custody as part of the investigation into homophobic attacks. In early October, the Tarbes Criminal Court examined the role of nine young people aged 18 to 24, tried for a series of assaults including some homophobic.
Homophobic acts are clearly increasing in France. In its annual report, "SOS Homophobia collected 1,650 testimonies of (homophobic) acts" in 2017, an increase of 4.8% compared to 2016 (1,575 testimonials), a year that had already registered a sharp rise ( +19.5%), observes the association. And according to an Ifop survey, more than one in two people who define themselves as homosexual, bisexual or transsexual, has been the victim of a homophobic attack during their lifetime.
Rally against homophobia Sunday in Paris
Faced with this resurgence of attacks, SOS Homophobia and the Inter-LGBT call for a rally in support of victims, Sunday, October 21, place de la République in Paris and call the government "to take action against LGBTphobies."