Two men victims of homophobic attack
(CNS): One man is recovering from a broken nose and another from various non-life-threatening injuries after they were the victims of a homophobic attack in the parking lot at The Strand entertainment complex on the West Bay Road during the early morning hours on Monday. Police said the assault happened around 2:20am on 3 January.
Two men in a car at the location were approached by two other men, who made homophobic remarks towards them before kicking and punching them repeatedly. Emergency services attended the location and the victims were taken to hospital, where they were treated and discharged.
“Although the investigation is still in the early stages, initial reports suggest that the men were assaulted due to their sexual orientation,” said Detective Chief Inspector Richard Barrow, who is overseeing the investigation.
“This type of violence is inexcusable and has no place in our community. We are working with urgency to locate the perpetrators and bring them to justice, and we appeal for anyone with any information to come forward,” he added.
Cayman does not have specific hate crime legislation but if a person was convicted of assault where the attack was based on the victim’s sexual orientation, this would be seen as aggravating circumstances.
While such crimes are not common in Cayman, they are not unheard of, though victims have generally been very reluctant to come forward to report such attacks. How the RCIPS handles this particular case could have a significant impact on whether future victims of such violence come forward and report them.
Anyone with any information regarding the incident is asked to contact George Town CID at 949-4222.
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Sorry, CNS, but your title “Two men victim of homophobic attack” is an example of faulty reporting. How does the writer know that this was a “homophobic” attack, exactly? It couldn’t have been based on anything from the police because unlike the U.K. the invention “homophobia” (i.e fear of homosexual) does not exist in anything the police can act on – and long may this continue. The Caymanian Compass is also guilty of faulty reporting with its recent heading “West Bay man arrested on suspicion of homophobic attack”. This patently untrue because the police are incapable of arresting anyone “on suspicion of homophobic attack”. They can arrest someone on suspicion of assault or similar, but most certainly not “homophobic attack” which is entirely something imaginative. Please stick to the real world, CNS, regardless of anyone’s point of view. Incidentally, as a 42 year non-caymanian resident of the Cayman Islands, I do object to the foreign interference from my home country (the U.K.) that seeks to impose legislation on the people of this country based on the legislation that was thought needed there. Caymanian society is vastly different to the society in the U.K. Caymanioans do not “fear” those who identify themselves as homosexuals they simply do not agree with their lifestyle. Shouldn’t they be free to do this? If not then this is tyranny, surely.
If this island isn’t “safe” then why are so many people here? Lgbtq÷ why dont you answer the many untoward approaches and rapes that have been caused in the bathrooms at clubs here over the years?. Some of you are not butterflies but hypocritic worms. I have also had unwanted approaches . Yet in my family I have gay relatives and many gay ledbian and bisexual friends so…… It is safe for them. A teacher of mine from 20 years ago is gay and I had a drink with him as he was with his family celebrating his coming out. We have an issue on this island with Child Sexual Abuse and Domestic Abuse. The LGBT community is strong enough to fend for itself on a safe island but Children and Mistreated Women always need our support. One is the future and the other can bring the future. Two grown men either defend themselves, run, call the police or get beat up, unfortunately we often and very often make these decisions. Do not ignore that the world we walk in is not dangerous at times. Being a gay male does not mean that you are not a man no matter how you may identify. Heĺl a person could identify as a gorilla these days and could be a potential threat to all around them should they go ape shit.
I’m a straight man and have unwanted approached by women and men, just let them know I’m not interested, and then feel flattered.
I certainly don’t get angry and beat up either?
I would certainly advise you to seek therapy and stop eating lobster and conch.
Also in Leviticus it states to treat foreigners like they are your own citizens.
Lets concentrate on that first and it will make Cayman more inline with a Christian society it pretends to be
A “Christian society”, obediently based on precepts found in the Bible, would soundly condemn the sin of homosexuality while demanding that we love the person.
Thus, under you idealistic “Christian” society, there would be no persecution of those who admit an attraction to the same sex. They would be loved and accepted by society. However, there would be penalties for acting on those desires, e.g. gays making out in public (or private for that matter). Thus, instead of taking the law in ones own hands and beating them, the police could be called to haul them off to jail to await prosecution.
Also in Leviticus, 20:13:
“If a man lies with a man as one lies with woman, both of them have done what is detestable…”
(For that crime, the prescribed judicial penalty in Leviticus is capital punishment.)
Just sayin.
Uh…you do know the difference between the Old and New Testaments?
One is complete bullshit, and the other is utter nonsense?
50 year old straight Caymanian male here. I am disgusted by this attack, as I’m quite certain most of the Caymanian population, gay, straight or otherwise, are also disgusted. And I can assure you that if I ever witness anyone being abusive to any of our gay residents, I will certainly come to their aid.
While some of our blowhard politicians would have you believe otherwise, Cayman does not have an inordinate population of homophobes. Cayman is just like any other place in the world, in that we have our share of idiots too. Please don’t denigrate us all based on this criminally ignorant incident.
Want to explain why an MLA can make blatantly homophobic comments in the LA and no one does anything at all? Or is verbal abuse ok? And your MLAs are in no way representative of Cayman people or attitudes? Got it.
Uh, freedom of speech?
Freedom of speech comes with responsibility. You can’t just run your mouth harassing anyone. Hope you don’t get discriminated and harrassed like we did. That is utterly unacceptable, particularly coming from the ones who must,not even should, MUST set an example and tone for the entire jurisdiction. Not to mention that blatant disregard for court decision.
Freedom of speech doesn’t mean you can purposely hurt others just because they are different from you.
Thank you. Three days of overtime LA time where booked for marathon hateful diatribes from morons, deplorably excused as parliamentary privilege. Meanwhile they had serious business to attend to, with pressing deadlines to meet, and we literally got blacklisted as a result.
An armed population is a polite population. Trust me when I say, people think twice about attacking someone when they are unsure if they will make it out of the encounter unscathed.
As a caymanian male, I whole heartedly support the right to bear arms for the purpose of protecting oneself and one’s family. This modern society thinking we are pushing, this victim mentlity where you are supposed to cower to those who instigate threats and violence and call upon a police department who, through years of action, have shown themselves to be incompetent and non-caring is ridiculous at this point. Things get better when there are less victims. Stop creating victims through encouraging people to call someone else to help. Especially when those called are useless at best.
All these bad man browns running around thinking they are the most gangsta and feel they can say or do whatever they want and noone should touch them will end when enough of them feel the consequence of their actions when they start bucking up on people who fight back. It only takes 1 or 2 incidents ending favourably for the victim when the perp suffered gunshots while they attempted to… umm.. i don’t know.. stalk some woman on the road and rob her or break into someone’s home in the middle of the night.
Will having the population being armed stop everyone from committing crimes? No, but what it will do is make those who prey on the weak think twice because the weak has levelled the playing field with a firearms.
I believe all women should be armed to deal with men who particularly like to prey on them to feel a sense of strength. I would feel much more comfortable knowing my pregnant girlfriend has a firearm with her in her purse should anyone decide to take advantage of her, because at the moment they know women aren’t allowed anything. Not mace, pepper spray, can’t carry a knife. And nowadays you can’t rely on people or men to stand up for someone else (I don’t blame them at this point), So women are just meant to sit back and accept what happens and ask for help after the fact.
In anticipation of the classic, “I don’t want this place turning into America with its gun violence”. Sure, I’m sorry you feel that way. My thoughts on this is quite complex but I’ll attempt to make it concise. I believe America has a culture problem and not a firearm problem. Homogenous societies like Switzerland have high firearm ownership but low rates of gun violence per 100,000. Now I know this is one example, but if we in Cayman were willing to talk about and address the issues our culture has and work towards building a better sense of community, maybe I won’t even need to think about firearms. But at the moment we have too many issues that remain hush hush. So until police and government start acting like they want/have the responsibility of protecting like they always claim they do, stop preventing me from protecting myself and my family.
If people were more likely to have firearms in their cars or homes, maybe these men wouldn’t have been attacked because the attackers probably wouldn’t risk getting shot. OR, if we were willing to have proper discussions about our culture and our failing sense of community and how to address it instead of the usual blaming another group, maybe people wouldn’t feel like they should trouble someone else who isn’t bothering them.
The last thing this island needs are armed citizens.
06 @ 1:30pm – I’m ambivalent about your sentiments, not that it would matter to you. But if you post your opinion, you should expect commentary. As a Caymanian male also, I can identify with your sentiments in some ways but I’d like to think that what you’re speaking of now might not be “necessary” for a few years yet.
My first exposure to gun violence in Cayman was in the early mid-1960s – two separate incidents, one murder and one attempted murder in Bodden Town district (earned it the nickname Dallas). Later in the ’60s & 70’s, I recall other shootings in WB and GT. However during the ’80s shootings in Cayman, generally transitioned from domestic (as were all those previously mentioned) to primarily “gang” shootings and armed robbery.
However, in the 60 years of my recollection, thankfully gun violence hasn’t become worse than it presently is, i.e. part of our daily life (except for two spates years ago). I believe RCIPS’ (a certain retired DI and his team) tactics of the ’80s/90s are to thank for “quelling” that tide at the time. Wonder if RCIPS still has officers of that calibre and commitment?
I’m not condoning criminal activity and would defend my family and property unquestionably, but looking through my rose-coloured glasses to look at the present, compared to other Caribbean islands, we’re not to the point yet for the need to carry – American style. But, no way can RCIPS/CBC/Coast Guard or the judicial system slack-off on gun violence and illegal firearms.
Mind you, I don’t use the same rosy glasses for far vision, and when I look ahead, not too far, I can well see your scenario being common. God forbid we get as gun-friendly as the US, though – bad driving on our roads alone would prompt daily shootings!
One or two ex boyfriends/husbands better run if females carried guns.
Inc Members of parliament
Idiotic suggestion. The proliferation of guns in Cayman would lead to more violence and deaths. There would be shootings every weekend at the bars, the RCIP would become infested with trigger-happy gunslingers, and suicides would soar. You say Cayman is not America. Okay, but it ain’t Switzerland either.
You’re correct @6:39 – Cayman culture is much closer to the States than Switzerland. I think pepper spray should be permitted, but definitely not guns.
This is not America. Do shut the hell up
Half the people on the roads here haven’t even mastered driving yet and this goofball wants them armed with guns. What an insane idea.
Great, in a country where a disproportionate percentage of the population can’t be trusted to comply with the rules of the road, you now want to arm them as well. I love guns and shooting as much as the next man, but no thanks. I don’t think we have the collectively maturity for that.
Unfortunately we have an inordinate amount of morons per head of population. The right to bear arms was an 18th century notion designed to allow white people to kill black people with impunity and overthrow a ‘tyrannical’ government. It has NO PLACE in a modern, civilised society. America is a poor example and a car crash of a society right now.
While I am certainly an advocate of gun rights for the USA, where your argument relating to America’s firearms woes are a “culture problem and not a firearm problem” breaks down in applicability to the Cayman Islands is that we have a relatively high number of residents and citizens who are from countries who share that “culture problem”. Some have a much worse firearm violence problem than the USA. They bring their culturally ingrained attitudes with them when they come here. I would love to own a firearm here for personal and domestic protection. I have had many hours of training and practice in the use of firearms, including tactical training. However, if the Cayman Islands government cannot even prevent the deleterious destruction the environment by those clearing land and properly regulate the use of a damn backhoe, I hardly trust the clowns in power to enact proper, safe and sane regulations relative to ownership of deadly weapons.
Terrible. Trust that the attackers will be charged and prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
Fullest extent of the law being common assault or ABH. And we see how seriously that is taken by the courts – a certain political being a perfect example: non custodial sentence for a prolonged and repeated assault, which I seem to recall included allegations about the victim’s sexuality.
Calm Down,
Do we know if there are any other mitigating factors to this attack or if it is just because they are gay? Cayman has had a lot of openly gay people for a very long time and you don’t hear of a constant stream of attack on them. What is so different about these two gay people?
I agree that Cayman is not the most gay friendly place in the world but no one here has to feel threatened going about their business.
Completely agree. I have several gay family members who are openly gay and have never had to not be themselves or felt unsafe here. While there are some who are not tolerant, there has never been an issue previously. All of this push to try and force people to accept the LGBTQ+ community has been more detrimental than beneficial.
Really? Basically blaming the victim. As expected.
yeah alcohol, suppressed insecurities, male egos all fueled by a deep homophobic in-house and cultural rejection of those that are gay. Is that enough mitigating factors!? Oh and I think you may have meant instigating or contributing factors. As there is nothing mitigating about this criminal attack.
Nothing to see here. Move along
This is a sad event and poor reflection on our society.
It doesn’t help that we have politicians publicly making despicable remarks and encouraging anti-social behaviour.
The tone at the top should be addressed, however our premier appears to be reluctant to address this.
This has been happening for years in Cayman. Why are people so surprised? I have advised many gay friends to leave Cayman because it is just not safe. It is not safe for homosexuals, women or children. Frankly the men can keep this place its gone to the rats.
#Caymankind
To be honest, this is more #JamaicanKind
I will never understand how someone can harbor such hate for someone else only because they happen to be attracted to the same sex. And don’t hide behind God because it’s almost an insult to him to assume he shares the same backwards and hateful beliefs as you!
Fundamentalist Christianity requires it. Hate is in the Bible. According to Leviticus you are supposed to execute gays.
Religion is not only stupid, it’s dangerous.
Ditto Islam, 6:41.
A lot of times those are closet cases with a lifetime of suppressed desires and self denial.
Despicable! Totally unacceptable. If you know the attackers, please tell the police; we cannot, and must not, condone this type of thing. Live and let live.
I know of the Strands shopping, I didn’t realise the entertainment was the fight club in the car park
Seriously there seems to be a serious attack at this location every fortnight.
Why don’t the police have a car parked in that area and another at the bar in industrial?
It is difficult to wonder the reasoning behind not have a police presence in those 2 locations.
Yeah, and the police presence at Dump Road should be the firearms response unit!
Silence from CIREBA, CITA, the District MLA, the CoP, the Premier and Governor. Why aren’t the mall owner and club tenants being hauled into DCI/ liquor licensing, or even the courts? Do any of the stakeholders and professional career crime fighters understand the motivation and value in a “safety” record? …the one we claim to cherish, are dearly paying for, foregoing so many other social-economic opportunities, and still not getting! Get vocal Cayman.
Police regularly do patrols through the strand parking lot, at least on Friday night. They were actually stopping cars and supposedly breathalizing everyone that was leaving like a month and a half ago.
I am a Caymanian and have never heard of any Caymanian assaulting a gay member of our community. Sounds like what our homophobic neighboring island would do. RCIPS you need to catch these low lives and make an example of them and while you at it put them on a flight home for good.
I agree.
I have never heard homophobia from any Caymanian. Ever.
It can therefore, as with almost all other social ills here, only ever be the work of foreigners.
Sure.
Prove it.
McKeeva Bush, Chad Anglin, Leonard Ebanks…
You forgot Jon-Jon
Betsy Eden
I’m assuming this is sarcasm.
It was.
That some can’t see that scares me.
No homophobia? Go have a chat with Anthony Eden or any random preacher.
LMFAO, yeah man
What are you talking about “never heard of any Caymanian assaulting”? The Speaker of the House beat up a bar manager last year and was criminally convicted in headline fashion. How about murder? Chad Anglin and cousin Leonard Antonio Ebanks are killer Caymanians in jail for literally raping Frederic Bise and setting him on fire in the trunk of his own car. They were successfully on the loose for 8 years, bragging about their evil scheme, before being turned in.
What rock do you live under!
I have never heard of a Caymanian lying lying about anything until your post. I am sure you are ashamed.
You could reduce violent crime by 20% if you put one squad car at the strand from 6PM-6AM daily.
Nah – midnight to 4 would work.
Unjustified violence against our fellow man or woman is unacceptable. Sorry for the two victims. Catch the bullies and prosecute them.
In case you are worried about what justified violence is, it involves protecting your person, property or loved ones from attack.
I used to bully and beat up the gay kid in high school..
Guess who grew up to realize they were suppressing their bisexuality? Yup, das me!
To 7:24 am: A hug for you.
Homophobia is grounded in stupidity and ignorance. Unfortunately, Cayman has plenty of stupid and ignorant inhabitants.
As an expat myself, why on earth are you still here? Wouldn’t you be better off somewhere else?
Who said the most ignorant inhabitants were not imported? Those with a particular propensity to attack homosexuals (although usually only verbally) are frequently from another Island.
Prove it.
“Batty Man fi Dead” is not only disgusting and frequently heard refrain, it is most certainly NOT Caymanian. The adverse treatment of homosexuals in Jamaica is well known and established, and even forms the basis of asylum claims.
Jamaica is the only country in the western hemisphere that makes homosexuality a felony.
I’m so glad Jesus has changed his mind on the subject in recent years throughout most of Christendumb.
And so is the word “bumboclaat” but it’s now in the cheek of most caymanians I interact with. If you are depending on a phrase to lay blame on a certain nationality, I’m afraid you’re either very stupid or extremely naive. Don’t forget your own politicians and locals who fought to deny rights to same sex couples. How far away is that from assault?
Most of our convicted killers are homegrown Caymanians. In fact: often the sons, nephews, and grandsons of killers going back generations. Some are recurring guests at HM Northward at the same time. We are now even exporting killers to the USA and elsewhere. Time to wake up.
As you well know, it’s more complicated than that. While attitudes toward gays are important — and I’m a gay expat myself — other factors about Cayman are important too when it comes to choosing a country to live in. Like everything in life, it’s a matter of optimising. But without a doubt, can Cayman treat their gay population better? You bet. This attack against these two men is truly outrageous — and a blemish on Cayman that will be picked up by newspapers AROUND THE WORLD. This just cost Cayman the patronage of a lot of gays who might have considered Cayman (despite past Cayman sins). And have no doubt: The gay community has a TON of disposable income to spend wherever they like. But it won’t be spent here…
Pretty much every country can treat their Gay and other non-majority communities better.
8:20a “As an expat” does this get you brownie points to say this? What makes you think 3:26 is not home grown? Do you think we don’t have homosexuality here among our people?
As a homosexual born and raised here, where would you recommend that I go? And leave my home, family and friends?
You sound like what the person you commented on was saying about ignorance. If that offends you, please look up the definition of ignorance.
And homosexuality is based on contradiction, I have a right to be homophobic just like you have a right to be homosexual.
CNS: Yes, you have the right to be homophobic but you do not have the right to act on it to cause physical or mental violence on another person because of it. Bullies are vile, whatever their twisted reasoning, and should not be tolerated in any civilised society. Also, the “right to be homosexual” is not a thing, just as the “right to be a woman” or a “right to be black” is nonsensical. All people have the right to live without fear of violence because of who they are.
Thumbs up to CNS … couldn’t have said it better myself.
Replace homophobic here with racist and homosexual with black.
Still agree with your sentiment?
Of course you have a RIGHT to be racist, sexist, homophobic, and just generally a hateful human being – but people then have a right to call you such, shun you, and point out that you’re a net negative to the society and the planet as a whole.
Homophobia is malware that society mandates an update/reflash in 2022. Discrimination or assault predicated on bad software is a hardware/meatware problem, which comes with lawyer fees, absenteeism, and prison time. That’s why downloading latest version is such a prudent idea.
3.26am So true. However alot are imported from you know where. Their influence on our young people and Social scene is terrible and unfortunately growing because they get rights as soon as thier marriage of convenience takes place.
Seems like two men got attacked by two men. If one of the attackers said either “queers” or “fags” then the whole incident turns into a homophobic incident.
Learning what constitutes a homophobic attack; a character development arc in two sentences.
Yes, extraordinary. How could people possibly have concluded that?
What next? You put a pillowcase on your head and lynch one black man and everyone calls you a racist?
Could anyone explain how it was determined to be a homophonic attack?
I’m now wondering what a homophonic attack would be like.
Gorillas engaging in guerilla warfare?
If the men in question had engaged in dual duels?
Cayman bigotry seems to have unexpected literary depths …
If you put a pillow case on your head and lynched a white person would you be a racist?
yes obviously, and if you need to ask then it means you probably are as well
Only if you weren’t white and were motivated by colour. Of course either way you would still be a murderer.
“This type of violence is inexcusable and has no place in our community. We are working with urgency to locate the perpetrators and bring them to justice, and we appeal for anyone with any information to come forward,” he added.
Umm any type of violence is inexcusable and has no place in our society!
These attackers were nothing more than closet cases in fear of temptation and ultimately being outed. Just come out boys, it’s an accepting world. No need to put up a violent front to hide your desires.
First there’s a woman stalker/attacker and now this. RCIPS.. where are you? Is there anyone on patrol? Cayman is becoming a scary place.
The RCIPS isn’t there in time or at all. When enough of the population realize that our family’s safety is in our own hands and that continuing to rely on the government and public departments, that have shown over the years that all their words about putting citizens first and compassion nothing but words, is nothing more than niavity, then we can start to change cayman for the better.
You are not allowed to protect yourself or your family because if you do, the full extent of the law will be thrown at you. Be nothing more than drones who cower at threats and violence, call the police who will show up after the fact and then ask the public to help them and wait 10 years for anything to be done.
The sooner we all understand personal responsibility, and fight for safety for our communities, ignoring stupid rules from government that considers themselves our ‘betters’, the sooner the government will realize they actually have to do something for us in order to retain this idea they can tell us what to do.
WTF is wrong with people? An unprovoked assault. 🤬
There is bound to be CCTV footage. Where is it RCIP? How serious are you, or do you already know who did this?
Exactly. Sadly, the growing victim roster of predictable Strand nightclub pay-day violence don’t seem to have concerned family members demanding (via courts) that the mall owner and club tenants respond with proportionately brighter, safer exterior spaces or adding Friday CCTV and security oversight. The DCI/Liquor Licensing board isn’t demanding it, the GT North MLA isn’t demanding it, and neither is the CoP, or Governor, not CIREBA, Chamber of Commerce. Not even CITA, even in the heart of the Hotel Tourism Zone. Our homegrown gangster capos and crooks, who freely assemble there hoping to settle scores, steal, assault, and make points, continue to enjoy shadowy anonymity there. It’s the opposite to what the public should reasonably expect in response to so many past tombstones and life-threatening emergencies. We can add two more to the pile of unsolved mysteries involving dangerous twerps nobody responsible seems to want to identify. We need to collectively call out this culture of felon-coddling if we want to preserve what’s left of the Cayman Islands’ long-prized “safety record”. There’s a lot more on the line than a couple broken noses and fat lips, and every stakeholder should reject this indifference.
‘twerps’ is too mild a description.
Sadly from experience. Not being attacked but wallet being stolen. The Stand has no video in the parking or towards the building. Thinking of the amount of reports being made the owners of the Stand would consider putting in Cameras and charging the monitoring fees back to the tenants. Or suck up the fees being how much they are getting paid in rent! We live in such a time now that as much as we do not like to be watched and recorded maybe all plazas and nightclubs should have sufficent security camera coverage by law.