Middle Aged Gay Couple Beaten And Bit In Homophobic Attack Saturday In Vancouver

David Holtzman and his partner Peter Regier, two middle-aged men who live in downtown Vancouver, British Columbia were the victims Saturday of a brutal, senseless attacked motivated largely if not entirely by homophobia. The two, whose home is near GM Place, were returning home from concert when they came upon two men urinating on the front steps on the townhouse. Holtzman says he asked “Do you really have to pee there?” which prompted the two men to assault without provocation. Holtzman was punched repeatedly to the head and body, and was twice bitten. Regier was beaten so badly he was taken to hospital where surgical staples were used close a head wound. Both suffered concussions. The attackers used a number of anti-gay slurs during the attack. Holtzman and Regier did not fight back and the incident ended only when a neighbour arrived and scared the two, who remain at large. A UFC event was being held at GM Place, but police say “there does not appear to be any connection (between the attack and) any events held in downtown Vancouver (Saturday) night ... however, investigators will be examining the timeline of events leading up to the incident.”