GAY FLAG ACTIVIST’S ‘GAY BASHING’ PHOTO CAUSES A STIR
One of the creators of the Gay Flag of South Africa has caused a stir by posting a fake picture depicting himself as a bloody ‘victim’ of a gay bashing attack.
Eugene Brockman, who designed the flag in 2010, posted a picture of his apparently battered face on Facebook on Wednesday, which led to a deluge of comments expressing concern and outrage.
It turned out, however, that Brockman was not actually attacked at all and that the blood was simply tomato sauce.
He says that his shock campaign intends to raise awareness about the plight of victims of homophobic violence, in particular the recent gay bashing of a 21-year-old in Cape Town which saw the assailant being fined just R150 for his brutal actions.
While one person commented on the photo, “Look don’t make fun, as it actually happens… it’s wrong of you,” most others agreed Brockman’s photo was effective.
“The reason I felt the need to take photos of myself as a gay bashing victim came after meeting with Shireen Abbas whose son Ameer was attacked, whilst buying a Mother’s Day gift, for wearing a fez as a gay Muslim,” Brockman told Mambaonline.
He said that the R150 that the assailant was fined “was an insult to human dignity and value of human life in SA” and questioned “how a severe attack can be dismissed so callously”.
Brockman, who was living in Cape Town, said that he didn’t expect that the picture would spark such an outcry on the social media platform. He revealed that the image was a spur of the moment idea while packing away items in his kitchen for his relocation to Johannesburg.
“Ketchup [tomato sauce], ground coffee and chocolate sauce did the trick and with Instagram’s photo lenses it made the pictures look authentic. So I shared it and said good bye to a friend popping by and continued packing. When I next checked my phone the response was huge. I started to get calls from friends concerned that I was really bashed!”
Brockman has urged others get their tomato sauce and ground coffee out and to change their profile pictures to ones of them as gay bashing ‘victims’.
“It appears to be a great tool to make people sit up and realise that this violence can happen to anyone and that their attacker could walk free for a mere R150,” he said.
For more about the attack on Ameer, click here to read about Brockman’s meeting with the young man’s mother.
What do you think about the campaign? An effective idea or a bad taste stunt?
When I next checked my phone the response was huge. I started to get calls from friends concerned that I was really bashed!…oh please…Brockman tagged every Tom, Dick and Harry in order to get the pick to go viral, not to mention asking people to share it. Just another publicity stunt to get into the media limelight again.
Nolando – you clearly have something against the guy. It’s MEANT to generate publicity you chop! That’s the whole point… LOL I think it’s a great idea!
Gay flag marketing gimmick, as always
They think we’re stupid. I find them so common and sensation driven. \\\\\\\\blech
I think twas stupid of him to depict a bashed up victim…I mean,who does that?
He is busy making statements about something he can’t change. It has been attempted for a good part of this “particular” decade to get people to accept Gays but I’m sure that it will never happen. Why do you have to force our minds to accept the fact that such things as Gays exist. I find it dehumanising andd basically what I’m saying is “NOT THAY GAY BASING is ok in Our society,No,”..What I’m saying is that you guys are basically shoving this down our thoats. It was your choice to be gay so don’t make it our problem. Its no-bodies fault that you can’t man-up and accept the “fact” that the gay community stands little chances of being fully accepted into our communities.
if it was our choice to be gay , when did it became your choice to be straight, if u are.
I think Eugene had a great idea ! Why would anyone take offense in seeing a Gay man assault pic , pretend or not he is making a statement ! I feel people that against what eugene did or who believe gay people are forcing their lifestyle on others have the own sexual insecurities to deal with ! Being gay or whateva you want to be is a freedom of choice no one have the right to criticize ITs a basic human right to be treated equally no matter. Your race , sex ,religion and sexuality ! People get a grip !
@shireen are you the mother of the young man?
This was a good idea. Well done. Made me sit up and think. We need more publicity around this matter. R150? Really?!
Gay flag marketing gimmick, as always
Sensation driven ?? PlZ you need to face the realities out there your hate speach creates !! This is exactly how my son Ameer looked after attackd
Oh, another media grabbing stunt, in an effort to elevate him and his gay flag to some pretext of being an activist. Media hungry chaps these.
You silly imp- this IS WHAT ACTIVISM IS ABOUT. Creating awareness by causing a stir. I agree with the mother of the guy who got beaten up here – in her words GET A GRIP
Not sure why some are against this? Thank god for the gay flag SA for bringing this issue to the fore. 10 out of 10. You guys rock.
What TANGIBLE accomplishments have GFSA achieved? It?s no use creating a huff and a puff over something that this is never going to change. Yes that?s right folks…the R150 fine admission of guilt has been that way for over 20 years. But just because a homosexual was beaten up all the moffies are up in arms…what about the MILLIONS of women who have been physically assaulted over the past 20 years??? You don?t see them protesting in action!
I agree…another marketing ploy by GFSA
Never underestimate your public. These guys are always doing that
First the Flaggers tell us the Task Team is so good then they do a petition to say they are so bad – which is it – fake!
LGBTI community LOL WHAT A JOKE!!!!!!!!!
This SUCKS!!!!