An estimated 1,500 people gathered in Liverpool yesterday for a peaceful protest march against homophobia.
The march - organised by Edge Hill student Emma Louise Stewart - was a reaction to the brutal homophobic gang attack on gay trainee police officer James Parkes on Liverpool’s Stanley Street on October 25.
However, only a day before hundreds of people headed to the city to show their solidarity in the face of homophobia. The Liverpool Echo reported on another homophobic attack in the city.
A student from Liverpool Community College was set upon at 7pm on Wednesday 18 November as he walked to catch a train at James Street station.
The 19 year old who does not wish to be named, says that he was targeted because of his flamboyant dress.
An eight strong gang of teenagers confronted him and aimed homophobic abuse at him, before beating him up.
He was left covered in blood while the gang, aged only 12-14, fled the scene. He has a broken nose and is due to undergo surgery this week.
Once again, the people involved in the assault, like some of those responsible for the attack on James Parkes, were school age teenagers.
Among yesterday’s marchers saying no to homophobia, was Marie Causer, the mother of Michael Causer, whose brutal murder last year was investigated as a homophobic crime.
Marie Causer welcomed the march, she told the Liverpool Echo: “It’s been a fantastic turn-out. This is what we need.
“We’re here to get the message across that enough is enough and that homophobia isn’t acceptable, not here, not anywhere.
“It’s to unite everyone and show that we’re all equal, nobody’s any different.
“My son was murdered for being what he was and for living the life he wanted to live.”
Liverpool councillor Steve Radford, was also at the march and read a statement of support for the march from the Bishop of Liverpool, on behalf all the denominations of the city.
Emma Louise Stewart the organiser of the march added: “We can’t accept homophobia and hatred, when it happens we must report it. It’s like racism, the more race hate was reported, the more seriously it was taken. The LGB&T community needs to do the same, the more we report it, the more seriously it will be taken.”