I get the vilest of abuse
Councillor who fended off attack says gays still targeted
A GAY county councillor has revealed how he fought off a violent homophobic attack in his home town when he was a teenager and believes that despite there being a gay Taoiseach, there will always be an undercurrent of homophobia here.
Chris Pender, 32, a Social Democrats representative on Kildare County Council, spoke for the first time about the incident that happened 14 years ago.
Speaking to the Irish Mail On Sunday, Mr Pender said: ‘Despite Leo
Varadkar being our first gay Taoiseach and the likes of high-level sportsmen such as David Gough [the Meath football referee] and Donal Óg Cusack coming out, some people’s attitudes will never change.
‘I get people in cars beeping at me to attract my attention and when I turn round I get the vilest of abuse before they drive off. It’s not an everyday occurrence, but it happens often enough,’ he said.
Reflecting on the attack which happened when he was a teen, he said: ‘I was walking home in Newbridge one Thursday night when a guy, who I never saw before, confronted me.
‘When someone calls you “a faggot” and “a queer” there’s definitely a homophobic element to it, and that’s what he was shouting at me. I walked on when all of a sudden I felt a punch on the back of my head.
‘I turned around and swept him off the ground with my foot and left him sprawled on the ground. He got up and came at me for a second go. I punched him in the face and floored him before I ran off.
‘The guy has since apologised to me for his behaviour, I’d like to think he was sincere. While I’d never advocate violence, I have no regrets about standing up for myself.’