A group of popular Irish drag queens have been left with significant injuries after being set upon by a gang outside a premises in Dublin city on Tuesday.
Alexis McQueen, a resident drag queen at The George nightclub, suffered injuries to her head following the attack in which a glass bottle was used.
She was on Dame Street with fellow performers Anita Hero and Grainne Kneez when a group of men started to verbally abuse them using slurs.
READ MORE: Met Eireann issue weather warnings as 'chaotic winds' batter Ireland before heat
According to an Instagram story post by Anita Hero, Grainne Kneez was in drag, and Alexis McQueen had dressed down but still had her makeup on when the men confronted them and used homophobic slurs, reports Dublin Live.
They followed the trio out of a premise on the well known street and threw bags of glass at them, which led to Alexis suffering cuts to her head after standing between her friends and the attackers.
Alexis said yesterday that people who were members of the LGBTQI+ community need to be careful when they're out and about in Dublin city and thanked well-wishers for their messages.
An ambulance was called to the scene to treat Alexis for injuries to the back of her head.
She said: "Got glassed in the head for no reason by a load of scumbags going home last night. Be careful out there when out guys. Just got home I'm grand, could have been worse though. Thanks so much for all the lovely messages and well wishes guys, you're all stars."
The news comes as the latest in a number of homophobic attacks in Dublin.
In August, a Dublin man was left with a bloodied face after being attacked by homophobic thugs.
Mark Sheehan, 26, was on his way home from the city centre on the number 15 bus when the horrific attack took place.
New hate laws are now being introduced following a rise of attacks on the LGBTQI+ in the country, with half of all Ireland's reported hate crimes last year occurring in Dublin.
The new bill will create, for the first time, specific hate crime offences. They will be in the guise of aggravated forms of existing criminal offences, where perpetrators are motivated by prejudice towards a "protected characteristic" such as race, colour, nationality, religion, ethnic or national origin, sexual orientation, gender expression, gender identity and disability.
READ NEXT:
TD calls for Twitter to be 'prosecuted' over handling of impending Irish job losses
The Crown star Dominic West opens up on starring alongside real son in season 5 of Netflix hit
To get the latest news right now, visit our homepage
