LGBT+ groups held a protest this weekend after a series of homophobic attacks in Paris.

The demonstration took place on Sunday at the Place de la Republique in Paris, with around 3,000 people attending.

Protestors took on the slogan “Be yourself without fear”  and called for more public safety for LGBT+ individuals, with many ministers and political figures joining the protest.

The demonstration was organised by LGBT+ groups SOS Homophobie and Inter-LGBT and protestors will call for “concrete” action to be taken to tackle the issue of homophobic violence, such as a national awareness campaign addressing homophobia, biphobia and transphobia.

Groups will also demand mandatory training on addressing discrimination for teachers, police and other officials.

SOS Homophobie president Joël Deumier said, “Whether they come from the Pope or Marcel Campion, any anti-LGBT comments should be systematically condemned by the government.”

While the president of LGBT charity Urgence Homophobie, Guillaume Melanie, was the victim of a homophobic attack on Tuesday night near the Etienne Marcel Metro station in Paris’ first arrondissement.

Melanie wrote in an Instagram post, “Tonight it is my turn. A homophobic attack while leaving a restaurant, broken nose, shocked, blood everywhere. I am gay and we are in 2018.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/BpJOwnIBj_7/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Speaking to BFM TV, the activist said, “I was leaving the restaurant with friends, we were celebrating the fact that one of our refugees had been granted residency [in France] and as we were leaving, during the time we were saying goodbye we were getting in the way on the path. And a gentleman who must have seen that we were gay, wasn’t happy about it.

“He pushed one of our party to get past, he was told to go ‘gently’ and that’s when he started directing crazy homophobic insults at me.”

“He called me a faggot and he gave me a big punch on the nose,” Melanie added.

This news comes after two gay men were viciously assaulted in Paris earlier this month. The couple was attacked on Rue du Maroc in the 19th arrondissement of the French capital after they were seen kissing on the street, resulting in the hospitalisation of the two men.

The two attackers, who kicked the men in the ribs and nose, fled the scene on bikes. One of the attackers was caught and sentenced to a year in prison.

Last month, 27 year-old actor Arnaud Gagnoud was beaten with a helmet after hugging his partner outside a theatre in eastern Paris’s 20th arrondissement.

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