A trans man who was attacked on Saturday night in Dublin had to get six stitches after he was assaulted on the street. Oscar shared a picture of his bruised face on Facebook as he told his story.

Oscar was on the way home from the city centre when an attacker decided he “looked too queer”, and pushed him to the ground and proceeded to kick him in the face while hurling abusive slurs. Oscar subsequently spent the next 12 hours in Accident and Emergency where he was treated for his injuries and given six stitches above his right eye.

Oscar expressed his gratitude to the person who found him and helped him get into a taxi.

In the Facebook post, Oscar expressed his anger at the lack of hate-crime legislation in Ireland, as well as the lack of protections offered for trans people:

“I am unimaginably angry that in 2018 I can’t be safe walking through Dublin. I’m sad that a lot of people out there have so much hate for me without caring to know me. I’m confused as to why people think voting Yes on the marriage referendum ended hate.”

Oscar revealed that his decision to share his story was brought on by his desire for people to donate to Transgender Equality Network Ireland (TENI), to campaign for hate legislation in Ireland, to call out transphobia when they see it, and overall, to look out for their trans friends.

Oscar continued:

“In Ireland right now I am not protected under any hate crime legislation. This will not be documented as a hate crime when that’s exactly what it was. I need you all to be angry too, we can’t fight these people on our own.”

As it stands Ireland does not have any legislation referring specifically to hate-crime. The European Network Against Racism has proposed the Criminal Law Hate Crime Bill to protect minorities.