Mr Gay Belgium hospitalised following violent homophobic attack
Police are investigating the brutal attack on 18-year-old Jaimie Deblieck.
By Will Stroude
Mr Gay Belgium has vowed to continue fighting for LGBT equality after falling victim to a violent homophobic attack.
18-year-old Jaimie Deblieck, who was crowned winner of the Mr Gay Belgium competition last summer, was hospitalised last week after being viciously assaulted in his hometown of Roeselare last week.
In a Facebook post, the teenager revealed that he had been attacked while walking home alone after a night out.
Sharing a picture of himself in hospital, Deblieck wrote: “Attacking me from behind and stamping is one thing. Calling me “fucking gay” after that, you’re gonna regret it. I’m not leaving it here, you coward.”
In a separate post, the pegeant winner, who appeared on the cover of the Belgian edition of Attitude last summer following his victory, confirmed that he had reported the incident to the police and thanked well-wishers for their support.
“So many messages, so many questions, so much support. Your support is what is going to pull me through these difficult days, and for that I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart,” Deblieck wrote the day after the attack.
“A complaint has been filed against the unsub and the public prosecutor’s office will get to the bottom of this case.
He continued: “A lot of people in our country, like me, have had to deal with physical aggression because of their orientation and have not yet dared to come out of it.
“Hating me, threatening, beating up.. Nothing’s gonna stop me from doing my job as mister and defending our community.
“Together we’ll get there”.