An investigation has been opened into “aggravated violence,” notably homophobic insults, against customers of ZanzyBar, a gay-friendly establishment in the city center of Saint-Étienne, the prefecture of the Loire.
The assaults occurred in the night from Saturday to Sunday. On Rue de la Résistance, in Saint-Étienne’s city center (Loire), a request to slow down directed at motorists led to a collective assault against customers of ZanzyBar, a LGBT-friendly establishment in the city center of Saint-Étienne (Loire). Two men were arrested and an investigation opened for “aggravated violence,” the prosecutor’s office announced on Monday, July 13.
The attackers, a source close to the investigation told Agence France-Presse (AFP), stopped their vehicle, got out, and struck customers and a server, while hurling homophobic insults and throwing glasses at people. An investigation has therefore been opened for “aggravated violence, in a group and because of the victims’ sexual orientation.” The two suspects, aged 19 and 29, were released on provisional liberty “to hear all witnesses,” Aurélien Buffart, deputy prosecutor of Saint-Étienne, told AFP.
Protest in front of the ZanzyBar
“We are used to insults because we are a bar identified as gay,” Hervé Divet, owner of ZanzyBar, testified to Le Progrès, though shocked: “Tonight, the violence was extreme.” On Monday evening, around 200 people demonstrated their anger in front of his establishment at the invitation of management, which notes that this violence is not isolated and calls the authorities “to make security a national priority”.
Présent à la manifestation, le maire de la ville, le socialiste Régis Juanico, a rappelé que la municipalité avait été récemment “attaquée durement pour avoir inauguré avec le préfet un passage piéton aux couleurs arc-en-ciel”. Et de lancer, sous les applaudissements : “Nous ne céderons pas face au déferlement haineux et homophobe anonyme sur les réseaux sociaux (…), nous allons aller plus loin dans la visibilité des personnes LGBTQIA+ dans l’espace public en peignant prochainement aux couleurs arc-en-ciel les marches d’un escalier de la ville.”
