AN LGBT rights group, LGBT Noise, has expressed concern over a homophobic attack on a well-known Dublin nightclub promoter, saying they believe it is linked to inequality in Ireland.
Buzz O’Neill told TheJournal.ie that he was attacked by four men outside The George pub in Dublin city centre on Thursday morning at about 1.15am.
O’Neill said that it was not an isolated incident and that many of these attacks go unreported.
Noise organiser Anna Mac Carthy said today:
The attack on Mr O’Neill is very disturbing and it is not an isolated incident. Discrimination in our laws, whether it is marriage law, equality law, or adoption laws reinforced prejudice and validate the underlying homophobia that prompted this attack.
LGBT Noise will hold a gathering of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and straight couples in Dublin city centre tomorrow at noon as the Constitutional Convention votes on marriage equality.
The Constitutional Convention, which can be watched online, is discussing the issues of marriage and adoption rights for same-sex couples in Ireland. The convention received over 1,000 submissions on the issues.
Vote
To mark tomorrow’s vote, LGBT Noise is organising a “kiss-in” on South King Street, just off Grafton Street, outside the Gaiety Theatre. It describes it as “a fun, inclusive, public display of affection and visibility of LGBT couples that is set to coincide with a critical moment in the history and future of LGBT rights in Ireland”.
O’Neill will address the crowd about his attack.
Noise organiser Max Krzyzanowski said:
The cowardly people who have attacked Buzz and others are not representative of the vast majority of the people of Ireland. 74 per cent of the general public support marriage equality. Other areas of discrimination against LGBT people must be addressed and homophobia and transphobia eradicated.
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