Chichester Festival Theatre cast member attacked, says Chichester Pride
The city's MP has written to agencies about high street safety
A member of the cast of A Midsummer Night's Dream at Chichester Festival Theatre has been attacked, according to Chichester Pride.
The Liberal Democrat MP for Chichester, Jess Brown-Fuller, said in a social media post that a performance of the show was cancelled earlier this week after a cast member suffered harassment and intimidation in the city centre.
What Chichester Pride said
Chichester Pride said: 'We are appalled that a member of the A Midsummer Night's Dream cast at Chichester Festival Theatre has been subjected to an attack which Sussex Police have confirmed they are treating as a homophobic hate crime.'
It said: 'Our thoughts are with the person affected, their colleagues and everyone at Chichester Festival Theatre, as well as members of our wider LGBTQ+ community who may be feeling distressed or unsettled by what has happened.'
It said: 'Nobody should have to experience intimidation, harassment or violence because of who they are, or who others perceive them to be.'
It said: 'That this has happened here in Chichester, during National Hate Crime Awareness Week, is a sobering reminder of the prejudice and hostility that LGBTQ+ people continue to face, including within our own communities.'
It said: 'For LGBTQ+ people, feeling safe is about more than the absence of violence. It means being able to hold hands, express who we are and go about our everyday lives without fear of abuse or hostility.'
It said: 'We all have a part to play in creating a community where everyone feels safe, respected and welcome. That means standing alongside those targeted by hate, challenging prejudice and refusing to allow discrimination to go unchallenged.'
It said: 'There is no place for homophobia or any other form of discrimination or hate in Chichester.'
What the MP said
Brown-Fuller said: 'Earlier this week, a performance of A Midsummer Night's Dream at Chichester Festival Theatre was cancelled after a member of the cast suffered harassment and intimidation in our City Centre.'
She said: 'This behaviour does not represent the tolerant and welcoming City that I am proud to represent, but antisocial behaviour and the use of e-bikes remains one of the key concerns residents raise with me on the doorsteps and in my most recent survey.'
She said: 'I have written to the key agencies that have a role in high street safety to ask them to come together with me and find some solutions to a problem that is affecting our businesses and our residents.'
Support and information
Chichester Pride's statement points people to Galop, a charity offering specialist support for LGBTQ+ people experiencing hate crime and abuse.
It also points to Victim Support, which offers free, confidential support for anyone affected by crime, whether or not it has been reported to the police.
The organisation urged anyone who witnessed the attack or has information to contact Sussex Police on 101.
In an emergency, it said people should call 999.
Sussex Police and Chichester Festival Theatre have been asked for comment.