Sixteen year old violently attacked by man screaming anti-gay slogans
Premier of Tasmania Will Hodgman opposed the reforms (Rob Blakers/Getty)
A sixteen year old supporter of equal marriage has been attacked in Australia.
The alleged incident took place in Hobart, Tasmania, on Friday afternoon.
A 32-year-old man has been charged over the alleged assault on 16-year-old transgender teen Thalia Black.
According to The Mercury, Black was allegedly strangled by the man, who yelled abuse about transgender people
The teen, who is transgender, told the newspaper: “He came up and started to say really horrible things.
“I just tried to laugh it off because I’ve dealt with this all my life.
“The next thing I know he has his hands around my throat and started squeezing.”
She added: “I was really scared, I don’t feel as safe as I used to.”
(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Tasmania Police said: “Any violence in our community is unacceptable. Tasmania is a safe place to live and Tasmania Police takes any incidents of violence seriously.”
Tasmanians United for Marriage Equality spokesperson, Robin Banks, condemned the alleged assault.
Ms Banks said: “This alleged act of violence is appalling. Whether you are a former Prime Minister or a teenager, all Australians must be able to feel safe on the streets of our cities.
“Both sides of the marriage equality debate and our political leaders must speak strongly and clearly in condemning this act of violence.
“If leaders fail to condemn this alleged attack, which was reportedly motivated by Thalia’s presumed support for the ‘yes’ campaign, they increase the chances of similar attacks on LGBTI people in the future.”
Susan Ditter, EO of Working It Out, said: “Violence on the basis of someone’s assumed sexual orientation or transgender or intersex status is an horrific reality and harms every one of us. It has no place anywhere.
“Abuse and assaults are a common experience for transgender, lesbian and gay people and their families, and it has to stop.”
The activists added: “We call upon the broader community, regardless of their views on marriage equality, to stand side by side with us to provide LGBTI people with support and safe spaces during what is proving to be a difficult and stressful time.”
“The Yes campaign has always held deep concerns that this process would be divisive and inflammatory, and those fears have come to pass.
“The ‘yes’ campaign renews calls for people to show respect during the debate.”
Last week former Australian PM Tony Abbott claimed to have been assaulted by a supporter of same-sex marriage, also in Hobart.
The man responsible later insisted he dislikes Abbott for other reasons and that the assault had “nothing to do” with equal marriage.
