Trainee police officer James Parkes, 22, was brutally attacked by up to twenty young people on Sunday, Oct 25th, as he and his partner left the Superstar Boudoir club in Liverpool. Mr Parkes was left with severe injuries including fractures to his skull, eye socket and cheekbone.

This kind of news is sickening and the frequency with which we read such stories really tells us what a long road we have still to travel. However, I was delighted to see the positive reaction of the Mersyside people as they attended a candlelit vigil against homophobia in large numbers. At the scene of the attack 1,500 people turned out to lend their presence to make a stand that this kind of thing should never be tolerated by any society.

‘Friends of Liverpool Gay Community and Scene’ representative Carl Alderdice has said

We had councillors, MPs, young and old and gay and straight. James’ partner Tom came and he spoke about looking forward to James being back on the streets in his job.

It’s wonderful to see all these various types of people join the LGBTQ community at times like this and showing support. Sometimes we can forget all the straight people out there who are horrified that things like this can happen and are willing to take to the streets and make that known. Many marches/parades/vigils here in Ireland are well attended by the straights and I for one welcome them with open arms.

Mr Parkes partner has said

He knows nothing about the incident, it is just a complete blank in his mind, its probably due to the severity of his injuries and its probably a good thing that he doesn’t…… It is going to take us some time before we pluck up the courage to go back out and enjoy ourselves with our friends

Mr Parkes left hospital on Friday and will hopefully recover from his injuries soon. What he and his partner went through is disgusting and affects us all. Violence against any person is violence against every person and it is up to everyone, regardless of colour, creed, sexuality, gender or anything else, to fight against it in all its forms.

I’m sure Mr Parkes will make a wonderful police officer when he is back on the streets and wish him well.

• Previously on Gaelick: It is what it is: Tracing the logic of homophobia