Man savagely beaten for ‘wearing make up and a dress’
A young man was brutally beaten by three strangers for dressing in a dress and make up.
Isaac Keatinge posted a photo of his bloodied face on Facebook on Sunday, saying he was targeted simply because of his clothing.
Keatinge said the attack occurred as he made his way home from a party in Sydney.
“I was confronted by some straight men who didn’t appreciate the gorgeous gown or make up I was wearing,” Keatinge wrote.
“After cruel words, things escalated physically. I was pushed and punched rather severely.”
He says nobody came to his aid during the attack and he was forced to stumble back to the party for help.
“At some point I stumbled back towards the party and some people outside saw me when I rounded the corner.
“The whole group was of course upset, but took me immediately to the ED at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital.”
Keatinge sustained bruises and a cut on his forehead so deep that it required fifteen stitches.
“The doctors and nurses were amazing and stitched me up, despite the fact my forehead was broken open to my skull,” he explained.
“Almost went into Plastic for nerve care but thankfully around my eye area is just some bruising.”
Keatinge said he was moved by the amount of support he has received, which he has described as “rather overwhelming, but so nice to feel.”
He had also gone to the police station to make an official statement.
“I made a statement with the police last night, stating that I didn’t think the situation would have occurred if I wasn’t wearing a dress,” he said.
“They already had a report from coming to the hospital soon after I arrived, and had started looking into it that night.
‘It was my first interaction with the police and it was a really positive one. Unfortunately they said there was a lot of these incidents that evening and lately in general.’
“While I don’t ever want people to feel like they can’t express themselves, do stay with others. Safety in numbers.”
