Blonde Galway transvestite attacked after Blondie gig

By Jessica Higgins
Galway Advertiser
31st July 2008

Photo at foot of page

A Galway transvestite was attacked in Galway city after spending an evening at the Blondie gig last Thursday. The man, who goes by the name of Sammy, was pushed to the ground outside the Front Door bar and had his pearl necklaces broken and his wig ripped off by a man who he claims was, “aggressive and extremely threatening,” and who also needed a lot of restraining.

Glamourously kitted out in a blonde wig and gold sparkly dress, Sammy attended the Blondie gig at the festival big top, and was greeted with “a unanimous show of goodwill, banter and appreciation,” by the crowds of both men and women.

Speaking to the Galway Advertiser, Sammy said that it is a difficult position to be in, being a “heterosexual tranny” and having a wife and kids, as most people assume them to be gay. “The people of Galway are very accepting and there is always such a wonderful atmosphere about Galway Arts Festival time - where diversity is welcomed and appreciated.”

Sammy said that one bad incident can cloud the whole experience, but is determined it will not stop him from enjoying himself.

Although the attack left him with several bruises and extremely shaken, he has decided against pressing charges. “I was in the Front Door for two hours and there was nothing but good banter, goodwill, and positivity - from both the staff and punters.”

The attacker approached him outside, when everyone was leaving the pub. “He was a nasty bully and a coward, I felt so defenceless, as you can imagine, it’s hard to stand up for yourself wearing a pair of heels.”

Sammy found the whole experience “very scary” and is thankful to the two men who intervened and pulled the man off him. “There were two guys from Scotland and Liverpool who stopped him, they thought it was outrageous that someone would do something like that, completely unprovoked.” He was also suprised to see that there was a female among the “bully’s acquaintances” who made no attempt to intervene.

“This individual was well turned out with blue shirt and glasses, middle class, middle aged, and struck me that he was local.”

Sammy said that the man’s excuse was that he insulted his friend’s shirt.

“What an honourable and chivalrous gentleman, standing up for the integrity of his friend’s shirt. But then again, as we all know from the school playground, bullies don’t need an excuse. But it’s not uncommon for such extreme homophobic behaviour to occur in people who are in denial – perhaps he’s at home now hating himself and slipping on a pair of his wife’s knickers, if he has a wife.”

Despite the experience, self-confessed party animal Sammy said it has not deterred him from going out in Galway, although it takes “a lot of courage” to do what he does.

“All I’ll say to this excuse for a human being is that I’m more of a man than you’ll ever be.”

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