Spencer Frey, 19, who openly states that he is gay, told CBC News that he and a friend had attended a party with another student who was consuming alcohol, when several of those present did not recognize him verbally and sexually assaulted him. all night long. Frey said the problem started when a young man called him “disgusting” and uttered a homophobic sneer. A little later, another man approached and lifted his hind limb “which made me so uncomfortable,” Frey said, adding that the man licked his lips impulsively before moving away. “I was shocked,” Frey said. “I could not even say anything. Usually, I’m the type of person who would go crazy.” The attacks escalated, Frey said, when a third young man approached him, accusing him of staring and then punching Frey in the face when he denied the allegations. Frey said he was hit on the ground and received more blows to the face before leaving home with his friend – without his shoes. As a result of the attacks, Frey said he was left with a swollen face, black eye, mouth injuries and bruises on his neck, where, he says, someone tried to strangle him with his collar.

Nanaimo RCMP is investigating

Nanaimo RCMP Const. Gary O’Brien confirms that police are investigating the incident, but could not provide further details. Ella McNeill, Frey’s girlfriend at the party, said she could not believe what she saw as she helped him out of the house while a handful of attendees were still trying to attack him. “I’m still shivering as I talk about it,” McNeill said. He said the couple returned to Vancouver Island University where they live and did not contact police until morning because they were so dumb and scared. Frey says he suffered a black eye, a swollen face, mouth injuries and bruises around his neck as a result of the attack. ((Submitted / Spencer Frey))
Frey’s mother, Erin Frey, told CBC she was “extremely angry” that her son was attacked, ostensibly because of his sexual orientation, and that he flew to Nanaimo from Vancouver early the next day, where the three went to the hospital. . “This is Canada,” she said disappointed. “We are supposed to be an inclusive country and it accepts all different types […] sexual orientations “. He said they spoke to police at the hospital, who later told them that at least one suspect was well known to them, although police did not confirm this detail with the CBC.

VIU offering support

A statement from VIU Vice President for Student Affairs Irlanda Gonzalez Price said the school was taking the incident very seriously and was working with the RCMP to investigate the “hate crime”. “Since Sunday morning, VIU has been in contact with the student and family and offers ongoing support,” the statement said, adding that it is working with campus partners to “strengthen training and awareness-raising activities that help alliance building “. McNeill said Frey has received huge support online and from friends after posting photos of his injuries on Instagram. Frey said he has been the victim of other verbal attacks both on and off campus since moving to Nanaimo last September. He said he has now collected most of his belongings from the dorm room and has no plans to go to VIU next year.