West End gay bashing led to broken teeth, another victim says
Last Updated: Tuesday, September 30, 2008 | 12:29 PM PT
CBC News
Matthew Bordewick says he and his male date were assaulted on Sunset Beach in Vancouver's West End after they kissed. (CBC)Another gay man says he was the victim of an attack in Vancouver's West End recently.
Matthew Bordewick says after he heard media reports of a gay man being attacked on Davie Street on Saturday, he decided to come forward and tell CBC News about another assault.
Bordewick said he was sitting at Sunset Beach with his date Sept. 15. But when he gave his date a kiss, some nearby men took offence, he recounted.
They approached Bordewick and his date, called them "fags" and telling them to leave the beach.
Then they started punching Bordewick, he told CBC News Monday.
"It all happened so quickly. I didn't even see his fist coming at me because I was looking at my phone dialing 911," he said.
Bordewick said the assault only stopped when witnesses called police.
"I was in total shock, I could feel bits of teeth coming out of my mouth."
He estimated it will take $5,000 worth of dental work to fix the damage.
Bordewick said he managed to get a licence plate number of the assailants' vehicle and report the incident to police, but no one has been charged.
Gay bashing not often reported
Vancouver police Const. Tim Fanning said it is rare for people to file police reports of gay bashing, even though police hear of many anecdotally.
"I know the community often times says these things go on, but they don't always call us," said Fanning.
Jennifer Breakspear, executive director of The Centre, a West End gay, lesbian and transsexual organization, agrees that often victims of anti-homosexual violence don't report assaults to police.
"We have a problem with an under-reporting of crime against the queer community. This is actually something that we're working on in partnership with the Vancouver Police Department," she said.
Gays, lesbians and transgendered people often think their complaints will not be taken seriously by police or are concerned about identifying themselves publicly, said Breakspear.
Her group will be meeting with police next month to find ways to encourage victims of assaults to come forward, and plans to hold community forums with the police in late October and early November on the issue.
