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4 months ago
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This is the horrifying moment a gay couple were whipped with a belt and assaulted by a gang of four after they were seen walking hand in hand.
Mattia and Antonio - fake names provided by local media - were attacked over the weekend at 4am after an LBGT+ event in Rome.
Chilling footage captured the incident which saw the two men crossing the street while holding hands before two men and a woman in lingere and knee-high boots began their assault.
The two men in t-shirts and shorts could be seen tailing the couple for a moment before one wearing a white top raised his leg and kicked them while shouting homophobic insults and calling them 'f******'.
The couple, seemingly baffled by the violence, attempt to retaliate but are outnumbered as the scantily clad woman begins to intervene.
Footage captured the moment a gay couple (wearing black and white) were attacked while walking hand in hand at 4am though the streets of Rome after an LGBT+ event
Three men and a woman dressed in lingere launched the attack while shouting homophobic insults at the pair
The attacker in blue and the attacker in white can be seen with a belt in his had as he whips the gay man in black after he has been tackled to the ground
The female attacker and her pal (in blue) kicked the gay men (wearing black and white) to the floor in the middle of the road as cars drove by
She runs towards the couple before shoving one of the men, throwing punches as they attempt to fight back while also backing away.
The two male attackers become involved in the fight again after one of them punches one of the men in the couple in the head, sending him falling towards the floor next to a lamp post.
Within seconds, the woman who appears to be returning from a strip club, grabs hold of him and continues her beating while her two pals take on the other man in the couple.
One of the attackers then removes his belt and whips the gay man in the stomach while his friend holds him still.
As he tumbles to the ground from the impact of the swings, he attempts to shield his face with his arms as he continues to be belted by the cruel man.
After a few seconds of violent whipping across his arms, back, and stomach, the two assailants begin punching him in the head after putting him in a headlock after being tackled to the ground.
The man's boyfriend seems to break free from the woman's clutches across the other side of the road as he sprints across and swings a heavy punch to his partner's attacker's head.
The woman in a thong and bra is quick to start her attack again as she grabs one of the men and slaps him around the head before kicking him down as he tried to stand up.
Once one of the gay men had broken free from his attackers, he was dragged back to join his boyfriend (wearing black) on the street where they continued to be assaulted
The two men and woman dragged the gay couple (in black and white on the ground) from the pavement on to the road to continue their beating
As the gay man (in black) attempted to stand up, his attackers knocked him back down
As cars drive by, the couple remain tackled onto the floor of the road before three members of the public finally offer their assistance to the attack victims.
According to the Gay Centre, which uploaded the horror footage to YouTube, the couple ended up in the emergency room following the assault.
They allegedly did not report the incident to police, but told the Italian helpline: 'We can no longer accept living in a society where violence, like the one we suffered, is still a sad reality.
'We are tired of having to be afraid to walk hand in hand, of constantly looking over our shoulders, of living with the constant anxiety of being victims of senseless acts.
'Although we are not professional activists, we cannot remain silent in the face of such brutality.
'In addition to the physical pain of the beating, we were deeply hurt by the indifference of those who witnessed the scene.
'Instead of intervening to help us, these people preferred to film what happened and publish it on social media, mocking our pain.
'Reviewing the video, we were shocked by the ferocity with which we were attacked, without anyone fearing the serious consequences that such an act could have'.
Finally, passersby stopped to intervene as the attacker in blue attempted to lift his fellow attacker in white off the ground while the gay man in black remained on the floor beneath the female assailant
The fight is split up by several onlookers, who had initially stood by filming without helping the gay couple
Alessandra Rossi, Gay Help Line Coordinator said: 'What happened to the two boys leaves us dismayed and worried. Already in recent months, Gay Help Line had recorded an increase in reports of episodes of micro-aggression that took place in places of the LGBTQIA+ community.
'There is concern, but also the strength that comes from indignation. The culture of hatred cannot and must not be brought to places of sociality and entertainment. We need greater attention from the institutions by recognizing specific protections for those who are victims of it'.
Alessandro Cataldi, Head of the Legal Area of Gay Help Line, added: 'Gay Help Line is at Mattia and Antonio's side in the path of legal protection.
'The places of the LGBTQIA+ community, in Rome and in every city, must remain garrisons of culture, where every person knows they can feel free and safe'
English (US)