Another gay-bashing in Athens: attacks follow pattern
ATHENS PRIDEPRESS RELEASEANOTHER GAY-BASHING IN ATHENS: ATTACKS FOLLOW PATTERN
Last night, two gay men were once again the target of a homophobic attack, this time in Keramikos Square – the busy, well-lighted heart of the Gazi entertainment district.
At 11.00 pm, Thursday, 25 October 2012, Petros Sapoutzakis, a teacher and activist, was sitting and chatting with a friend in the square, when they were approached by four Greek men, asking them if they were gay.
Recalling similar scenarios where friends were beaten up when they replied “yes,” Mr. Sapoutzakis simply asked what the men wanted. Without a word, the four men began kicking, punching and finally spitting on them. The attack ceased only when Mr. Sapoutzakis and his friend managed to break away and shouted for help. Mr. Sapoutzakis is in the process of reporting the incident to the police.
Perhaps more shocking than the assault itself in a populated location was the apparent indifference of the many witnesses, none of whom made an effort to help. When Mr. Sapoutzakis shouted, “Why are you sitting there? Soon they’ll come after you,” someone replied, “You deserved it!”
Athens Pride reported an almost identical assault on Stefanos Agelastos on 24 August 2012. Collaborating Greek LGBT organizations are particularly alarmed at the frequency of these attacks and pattern they follow. Earlier this month, the neo-nazi Golden Dawn party made its homophobic agenda clear at the Chyterio Theater, when it violently shut down Terrance McNally’s play, “Corpus Christi,” which portrays Jesus Christ as gay. Such intimidation and terrorization tactics are being systematically waged against other vulnerable social groups throughout the city. The Greek authorities and society must intervene if democracy is to prevail.
Andrea Gilbert, Spokesperson +306974187383
Athens PrideNon Profit Association18 Derigny StAthens 10434 Greece
www.athenspride.eucontact@athenspride.eu
