EDMONTON – An openly-gay University of Alberta student says he was attacked and robbed because of his sexuality — and it has him contemplating a move from his campus-area dorm.
Chevi Rabbit, 26, is one year away from completing his native studies and anthropology degree at the U of A, but said this week's events has him anxious about the upcoming semester.
Rabbit said around 8:30 p.m. Thursday night he was walking from his home to the nearby Safeway store, when a group of men pulled up and started yelling homophobic slurs at him.
He told them,"thank you," but said when he replied, he didn't realize that one of the men had exited the vehicle.
"He grabbed me and threw me to the ground," Rabbit said. "The guys in the car backed up on the one-way. A group of students saw what was happening and ran over. They took the licence plate and a description of the car."
He was treated for minor injuries, including a gash on his hand and bruises on his knees.
What's more, said Rabbit, the man reached down and grabbed his iPhone.
When officers arrived, Rabbit said they told him the attack would be investigated as a hate crime.
Rabbit is a part-time makeup artist, and said he makes no effort to conceal his sexual orientation.
"It's not that I go around announcing that I'm gay. But I'm a person too. I like being gay, and I'm very proud to be gay," he said. "But I don't know, I'm sad that it still happens in this day and age."
And although he often wears makeup, he said he's never encountered any kind of hate or discrimination.
"I've never had any problems. That's why I'm so shocked, because I've always felt safe. But now I don't," he said. "There were people playing volleyball, there were others around. It was out in the open."
Rabbit said he has been staying with his mom in Calgary since the attack, and is unsure if he'll continue living at the same dorm.
allison.salz@sunmedia.ca
Twitter: @SUNAllisonSalz
