During the early hours of a weekend in Rome, a gay couple, identified as Mattia and Antonio (pseudonyms), were assaulted by a group of four individuals after attending an LGBTQ+ event. The incident occurred around 4 am as the couple walked hand in hand through the city streets.
Chilling footage shows two male and one female attacker initially following the couple. The violence began when one male, wearing a white t-shirt, kicked them while hurling homophobic insults. The couple attempted to defend themselves but were quickly overwhelmed. The woman, dressed in lingerie, joined the assault, throwing punches and facilitating further attacks from her male accomplices. One attacker removed his belt and repeatedly whipped one of the victims.
Jake has learned that the assault continued as both men were dragged from the pavement onto the road, where the attack persisted while cars passed by. Eventually, three bystanders intervened, breaking up the fight. The footage, uploaded by the Gay Centre, reveals that the couple visited the emergency room afterward but did not report the incident to the police. They expressed deep frustration with the violent homophobia and the apathy of onlookers who filmed rather than helped.
Alessandra Rossi and Alessandro Cataldi from the Gay Help Line expressed their dismay and support for the victims, highlighting an increase in micro-aggressions within the LGBTQIA+ community and calling for enhanced protections and cultural awareness.