A distressing incident unfolded in a Sydney neighborhood last weekend, shedding light on the challenges faced by LGBTQ individuals in terms of safety and protection. Borna Kazerani, 38, recounted an altercation in which he and his roommate were subjected to homophobic slurs and physical assault by assailants in a black Hyundai. Despite the attack being audible to the police through a call made by Kazerani as it transpired, the officers failed to intervene, sparking questions about the response to hate crimes.
The episode began when a passenger in the black Hyundai directed a derogatory gesture at Kazerani and his roommate. Following a shoulder shrug from Kazerani, the car came to a halt, and the situation escalated rapidly. Kazerani described the assailant exiting the car and verbally attacking them with homophobic slurs before resorting to physical violence, leaving Kazerani with injuries.
Capturing the disturbing incident on Instagram, Kazerani’s roommate shared visual evidence of the attack, which depicted the assailants and the altercation. Even as the attack unfolded, bystanders at the Parklea Markets intervened, but Kazerani’s attempts to distance himself from the confrontation were met with further aggression from the attackers.
The situation escalated when Kazerani called emergency services (000) for help. Surprisingly, despite the ongoing call, the assailants returned and continued their assault while Kazerani was on the line with the police. The attackers eventually fled upon realizing that Kazerani was in contact with law enforcement.
However, the response from the authorities remained lacking. Despite being privy to the incident in real time, police did not arrive at the scene. Kazerani, in a social media post expressing his disappointment, conveyed his concerns about the reliability of law enforcement in such situations. This unfortunate incident has raised concerns within the LGBTQ community regarding safety and protection and highlighted the need for robust measures against hate crimes.
As investigations continue and witnesses are encouraged to come forward, this incident underscores the challenges faced by LGBTQ individuals when it comes to addressing hate crimes. It also echoes Kazerani’s sentiment that self-defense might be necessary in the face of homophobic attacks due to perceived inadequacies in official responses. The incident serves as a reminder of the ongoing struggle for equality and security within the LGBTQ community.