In the early hours of Sunday 15 May 2011 the staff and clientele of the gay-friendly Rainbow Bar on Street 172 in Phnom Penh's Daun Penh district were subjected to a vicious and unprovoked homophobic attack by neighbors, which left several people badly injured and caused significant damage to the bar. The establishment had been hosting a drag queen competition as part of Pride Week 2011 celebrations. More worryingly, according to witnesses, police refused to intervene until they had been paid a bribe of US$500.

The attack fell during Pride Week 2011, a week designed to promote tolerance of - and to celebrate - sexual and gender diversity. Pride Week 2011 passed off with great success in Cambodia, with more than 1,300 people showing their support and attending a wide range of events in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and other parts of the country. It is clear from the popularity of the festivities that ordinary Cambodians are beginning to embrace lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersexual ("LGBTI") people.

While the attack itself is a matter of concern, the failure of the police to intervene and discharge their duties to maintain the safety and security of the staff and patrons at the bar is a significantly more serious matter. Such failures on the part of the police are likely only to encourage additional homophobic and transphobic sentiments and attacks.

Source:http://madikazemi.blogspot.com/2011/06/in-cambodia-gay-bar-attacked-police.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+SaveMehdiKazemi+%28LGBT+asylum+news%29&utm_content=FaceBook