Two men have allegedly been attacked in a violent assault in Northbridge. Channel Nine News have reported that Perth man Adrian Lea and a friend were walking from an event to a nightclub when the assault occurred.
Warning: This story has details of violence which might be distressing to some readers. For 24-hour crisis support and suicide prevention call Lifeline on 13 11 14. For Australia-wide LGBTQI peer support call QLife on 1800 184 527 or webchat.
Social media posts claimed the pair were travelling from The Court Hotel to Connections Nightclub when they were assaulted. The journey between the two venues, which are mainstays of Perth’s LGBTIQA+ scene, sees hundreds of LGBTIQA+ people walk through the Perth Cultural Centre and along James Street regularly.
Lea told Nine News that he and friend were walking between the two venues when a man struck up a conversation with them. The man asked if they were gay. When the pair confirmed they were, he called over another man and the two men were violently assaulted, describing it as a hate fueled attack.
“He started a conversation; I don’t remember what the conversation was.” Lea told Nine News. “He has asked me if I was gay and then literally just called his friend and boom!”
“Both of them jumped on me and started hitting me in the face,” Lea told Channel Nine.
“Then I was on the ground. As I got up literally my nose was running blood.”
“It completely blindsided me, I was just in a daze and I was like ‘what the hell is going on?”
“They were yelling out to ‘kick him in the head.'”
The assault was stopped by onlookers who stepped in, but if left Adrian Lea requiring medical treatment for a fractured nose, with photos of his bloodied face and hands quickly being shared across social media.
A spokesperson for WA Police has confirmed to OUTinPerth that around midnight, while on patrol in Northbridge, police became aware of an altercation involving several males near William Street and James Street.
The group separated on police arrival, and two men were identified as victims, both received injuries as a result of the altercation.
Perth Police are now conducting further inquiries into the altercation and are seeking to identify who else may have been involved. Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online at www.crimestopperswa.com.au.
In response to the assault a community event was launched, inviting people to form a human chain between the two venues at 1.30am on Sunday morning. Organisers later cancelled the event saying it was not in line with community expectations. Later a Saturday afternoon photoshoot was put forward.
OIP Staff, Update: 10-04-23 12:16am additional comment added. 18:38 Comment from WA Police added. 15-04-23 10:25am Additional information added about the cancelation of the protest event, and launch of substitute event added.
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