Liverpool teenager hurt in homophobic attack

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A gay 19-year-old student was beaten by eight boys last week in Liverpool’s city centre for being “flamboyantly dressed”.

The attack follows the gang beating of trainee policeman James Parkes, who was hospitalised with a fractured skull when he was set on by teenagers last month in the city’s gay village.

The 19-year-old man told the Liverpool Echo how he was set upon in Lord Street last Wednesday by eight boys aged between 12 and 14, who shouted homophobic abuse at him while they attacked him.

He suffered a broken nose and was left covered in blood. He is due to undergo surgery next week.

He told the newspaper: “Sadly, it’s something that happens all the time in Liverpool, I expect it now.

“I was bombarded with punches, I didn’t know where they were coming from. They were shouting, ‘what the f**k are you wearing?!’

“I can’t even get on the train without suffering abuse. It’s everywhere I go. I wear colourful stuff, and lipstick, but if I didn’t it would be restricting how I want to be.”

The student, who is currently studying A Levels, said he had been attacked before and his ex-boyfriend needed extensive surgery after being assaulted in Stanley Street 18 months ago.

His admission came just before 1,500 people joined a march through the city centre to protest against homophobia.

Among those attending were Marie Causer, the mother of gay teenager Michael Causer, who was killed last August.

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