A deputy mayor of Montreuil, victim of a violent homophobic attack

“It was a homophobic ambush!” On Twitter, Luc Di Gallo, deputy mayor of Montreuil (Seine-Saint-Denis), says he was the victim of a homophobic attack on Friday June 2. The elected official filed a complaint, but the Bobigny prosecution did not retain the homophobic nature of the attack. “The homophobic character has not been established at this stage, and no one has been arrested. Investigations are continuing.” responds the prosecution, contacted by Mediapart.

In the evening, he went to a city park on a date set with a man through the Grindr app, a gay dating app. When he arrived there, a young man was waiting for him. “wearing a surgical mask” due to pollen allergies, he says. The two men begin to walk towards a darker corner when the young man starts shouting “Get out”.

Guilty and inappropriate remarks

Three men then come out of a bush and attack the chosen one. “In a very quick movement, he put his arm around my neck to control me. The other three jumped on me and punched me in the face. One of them shouted “dirty fagot, pedophile”, traces Luc di Gallo on Twitter. The deputy mayor then shouts “Help”in vain. “The one who was to be my partner for a moment started to squeeze my neck even tighter to keep me quiet”he says.

The attackers choke him and put him on the ground, before leaving “running with all my valuables”, adds Luc di Gallo. The elected later filed a complaint against his attackers. He points out in his testimony “THE police professionalism of the police station Montreuil who received his complaint. “The police are not always trained to properly receive complaints of homophobia”, he says. This is also the case for some health professionals. During his examination, the doctor in charge of assessing his Total Incapacity for Work held “guilt-inducing, inappropriate remarks and calling into question the homophobic nature of the attack”reports Luc di Gallo.