Hate Crime Awareness Week
Hate Crime Awareness Week: A blog from Lionel Idan, CCP for London South | The Crown Prosecution Service view his blog here
Read more...Ryan Williams, from Preston, Lancashire, was set upon by a group of vile thugs and knocked unconscious in what Lancashire Police say was a hate crime.
A receptionist says he was knocked unconscious 'for being gay' in a sickening homophobic attack after a night out.
Ryan Williams has shared graphic photos of his facial injuries suffered in the beating.
The 22-year-old says he was thumped over the head, repeatedly kicked in the face and left wounded on the floor in Preston, Lancashire.
Police said the attack is being treated as a hate crime.
“I never thought in my life that I would get beaten up for being gay," the hotel receptionist wrote in a heartfelt message on Facebook .
"Wtf has this world actually come too, you’re all vile and disgusting! I want people to understand that being gay isn't a choice and I can’t help it, I’m sorry that you can’t deal with it but hey ho no need to knock someone out because of it.
"I seriously can not believe that a homophobic attack happens. Which it does and it’s wrong. Stand strong and love yourself, this isn’t gonna stop me from being fabulous. Being gay is OK."
More than 110,000 people - including strangers from across the globe - have liked the status and left messages of support.
Ryan, who needed treatment at Royal Preston Hospital after Saturday's attack, said: “My friends and I were heading to ******** for something to eat after a night out.
“There was a group of people nearby in the street and they started calling me and my friends gay.
“We went over and told them it’s not okay to say things like that.
“As I walked away then one of them ran after me and he hit me in the back of the head.”
Ryan, of Preston, is aiding police with the investigation.
A spokesman for Lancashire Police said: “We were called around 6.30am on Saturday (July 13) following reports of an assault in the Friargate area of Preston.
Attacks on LGBT+ people are in the media on a weekly basis at the moment. It is very concerning that the number of cases are increasing in some areas of the UK.
The West Midlands region have seen a huge increase in homophobic hate crime. Overall, hate crime has increased, but various agencies are working together to both prevent and address hate related crime.
EQuIP, an independant charity in Warwickshire, support victims of homophobic abuse and they feel no person should have to tollerate hate related crime.
EQuIP strongly encourage any person that experineces or witnesses any form of hate crime, to come forward and report.
There are various ways to report depending on how much information people wish to give. You can ring the Police by calling 101 in a non-emergency situation, but always call 999 in an emergency.
In Warwickshire, some people do not wish to contact the police directly, so they can report hate crimes/incidents to EQuIP, who will protect a persons identity and not pass on any details of the report without prior consent.
Reports to EQuIP can be made online via the www.reporthatenow.com website, you can send an email: advice@equipequality.org.uk, or for those that prefer to speak to someone in person, you can contact telephone EQuIP on 01788 863117 (Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm).