Thanks to member StephenBln for alerting me to this one through links to these great photos on his Twitter stream. The photos are hosted on his website.
In a nutshell, the story, as told in the Irish Times, concerns a homophobic ice cream seller who chose to base himself in Berlin's gay neighbourhood. After years of abusing gay couples, he finally went too far. And this was the reaction:
Funny that I have seen two "skinheads" walking up and down Green Lanes. They have para boots, bleached Levi jeans and jacket and the old Fred Perry. I assumed they weren't the far right sort. I have been looking for various Levi stuff on ebay of late and it's quite ironic that the gay community shares some of the fashions of the skinheads.
BTW not all skinheads are nasty, SHARP skins (Skin Heads Against Racial Prejudice) have been going for decades and have groups globally including Gay Sharp Skins.
Great story by the way Stephen let's hope people shove his raspberry ripple where he doesn't want it.
@B2: There has been a large 'gay skinhead community' since about 1968, although it did take a dip in numbers through the 'Gary Glitter years' - lol. The gay community has often been the leader of fashion styles and tastes.. Today's vogue in Bald heads (James?) has it's origin there too! (At this point, I do expect John D to tell me that there have always been bald heads - yes! he says wearily, I know)
Just one small correction, the Ice Cream man is actually of Italian descent (not a Herr Whippy) and it is nearly always the case (in that area) that those males with a Mediterranean (Southern European) or Middle Eastern background still feel the need to prove their masculinity by attacking the LGBT community.. It's all pretty spineless stuff really, but can occasionally get dangerous..
The police hadn't been notified about the 'Kiss-In', but closed the street and allowed the demo to continue for three hours until which time 'Freddo' closed the shop for the day, due to 'homophobic' exhaustion..
The take away pizza place next door which BTW does fab pizzas, didn't want to get involved and all the staff there wore solidarity T shirts.. as one TV reporter smugly said.. and 'they did the trade of a lifetime'.. All in all, it was a fun afternoon, even though it did have a serious side to it..