JGS, a 43-year-old man from Vigo, has a habit of heading to the beach to unwind and keep himself calm. He often spends time at Cabo Estai, lying on a rocky outcrop near the sand to sunbathe. Last Tuesday afternoon, he dozed off with the shore empty around him. When he woke, a nightmare unfolded. Close by, a man stood with two women, barely a foot away from where JGS rested, despite ample space elsewhere. Politely, JGS suggested they move a little farther away to give him some breathing room. The reply was a harsh, discriminatory outburst: shut up fagot.
The legs of the injured were visibly bandaged. Alba Villar
The victim initially ignored the taunts, maintaining distance since the beach was quiet and there was no need to crowd the area. The aggressor refused to listen, repeating the insult. The confrontation escalated: the assailant claimed that he had been recorded by a friend, and, after a struggle over a phone, two punches landed on the face. The victim pushed back, and both men fell. A cooler, typically carried to the beach, was grabbed and hurled toward the head, opening a shallow cut above the left eyebrow. The assailants then emptied a nearby fridge of its contents and hurled them as well. Fear overwhelmed the victim as the assault continued.
Later, the attacker was pinned to the ground, but one of the women kicked him in the back. He finally reached for his phone to call for help, shouting that he had been attacked, and the sequence prompted him to contact his mother while waiting for assistance.
When police and medical responders arrived, the Vigo resident found his face drenched in blood. The injuries included a broken tooth, multiple facial and head wounds, and raw knees from bruising against rocks.
He did not feel ready to discuss the incident on the spot. The following day, however, he reached out to Pvlse, the LGBT+ collective in Vigo. The group has an agreement with the National Police to help prevent attacks on gay and transgender people and immediately reported the case to law enforcement. Association representatives aided the victim in filing a formal complaint at the National Police station.
Authorities decided to classify the incident as a hate crime due to the combination of physical violence and homophobic insults that targeted the victim. The Vigo LGBT+ collective expressed deep horror at the events, with the director noting that this could have been another case with serious consequences, underscoring the need for ongoing vigilance and support for the community.
JGS expressed concern upon learning that the attackers had filed complaints against him. He explained that his only action had been to move the group away, not to provoke a confrontation. Although he preferred to keep his identity private, he chose to tell the local press about the incident to raise awareness and prevent a recurrence. He has frequented Cabo Estai for a decade without trouble, but the episode left him fearful about returning. He emphasized that his aim was to report what happened so that safeguards could be strengthened and similar assaults avoided in the future, despite continuing to work and trying to maintain some normalcy in his life.
In response to the incident, the LGBT+ community in Vigo reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding residents and visitors from hate-fueled violence. They highlighted the importance of clear reporting channels, rapid police response, and public education about the impact of homophobia. The case serves as a reminder that beaches, like other shared spaces, must be welcoming and safe for everyone, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. The community continues to monitor the situation and advocate for accountability and support for victims.