UPDATE : London to hold rally against hate and violence

Sadly, there has been another violent anti-gay attack in London, Ontario, Canada. Erik Rozenski and his boyfriend were attacked by two men early Sunday morning (Sept. 27). "I didn't think this would happen to me," Rozenski told LondonTopic.ca. The attack comes just two weeks after Brandon Wright, a gay man, jumped from a moving truck while being attacked.

LondonTopic.ca reports:
Michelle Boyce, media relations with the London-based HBT Working Group (Homophobia, Bi-phobia, Transphobia), said the group was contacted by one of the victims of the most recent assaults, Erik Rozenski.

Rozenski was celebrating his 27th birthday Saturday, and was walking along Central Avenue with his boyfriend (name withheld) when they were centred out by two unidentified males who made "homophobic remarks relating to the fact they were holding hands," Boyce said.

The following is a written statement made by Rozenski and submitted to the HBT Working Group:

Erik: " I was walking home with my boyfriend on Central Ave. We were holding hands. We passed two guys who said 'gross, they're probably going to fuck each other tonight.' We just brushed it off, didn't reply, kept walking, they ran up behind us and punched both me and my boyfriend. My boyfriend managed to get away and get his cell phone out while the other guy hit me and knocked me on the ground, the moment my boyfriend made contact with 911 they took off running. Luckily there was a police officer in the area. They managed to catch the one that hit me, but the other got away. However, the one they caught gave the other guy away and he was eventually captured as well. I got a gash on my head, black eye, broken toe, minor scrapes and bruises. My boyfriend just got a bump on the head. I was more mentally hurt from it as I hyperventilated and passed out till I woke up in the hospital. Pictures were taken by LPD of my injuries and statements reconfirmed yesterday (Sunday). I have not been advised yet, if the charges have been formally set or what the charge would be for this hate crime, like what it would be called. "

London police Const. Amy Phillipo confirmed the assaults did take place and the investigation into what has been tagged as a hate crime is ongoing. "One person has been arrested and charged," she said. Michael Kyle Gordon, 22, of Richmond Hill, is charged with assault. A second suspect is still outstanding, Phillipo said. That suspect is described as a white male in his 20s, 5'8" tall, short dark hair and wearing a black T-shirt at the time of the attacks.

Anyone with any information regarding this incident and information regarding the outstanding suspect is asked to contact London police at 519-661-5670 or call 1-800-222-TIPS.