[user104658]

Originally Posted by Ammi

...I think you and I are going to disagree on this one TS...I do feel that it’s important to preserve words as you say...so that they keep their weight and the gravity ...but I cannot look at the blood on those faces and running down their clothes...realise the fear and confusion they must have felt then and look at how that will effect them in the future...?...and not have the word and the mindset of homophobia scream at me in the loudest of voices...

That's where it gets difficult for me thoygh too Ammi and I find this hard to express in a way that doesn't sound like I'm trying to excuse or downplay attacks on LGBT people; like some people might see a gay person being attacked specifically for being gay and say "Forget homophobia assault is never acceptable" but that's not what I'm aiming for here at all.

I look at those pictures and they scream at me the entitlement and aggression of a group of males who wanted to use two women for their own pleasure, and became angry and violent when they weren't able to control them and they didn't comply. I think people might (wrongly) use the fact that they are gay to dismiss that part of this attack entirely. I don't know to what expent homophobic thought motivated these individuals but I am fairly certain that their over-riding mindset in doing any of it is that women are the belongings and playthings of men, and FAR, FAR too many young men are growing up with that idea.