Envy Peru, the winner of Drag Race Holland, revealed that she was attacked while riding a bus in Amsterdam in an Instagram post.
She called this assault a “wake-up call” for her and the LGBTQ community.
“I was attacked in broad daylight by 4 young men while on the bus in Amsterdam. They threatened me with a weapon while making offensive slurs towards me and filming it. Even when I tried to distance myself from the situation by moving away, they continued and kept trying to hit me,” she wrote. “As I tried to get away, what shocked me the most was that only one sweet lady stood up for me – in a whole bus full of people.”
The attacks didn’t end there and when Peru got off the bus she “sensed the boys following me, then one of them ran towards me and kicked me to the floor. Four women stood up for me and scared the boys away and escorted me to where I needed to go.”
She continued to thank the women for their assistance in protecting Peru and making sure she was okay.
“But if one of them might read this… Thank you so much
.”
Peru reassured fans that “besides the shock, I’m doing okay.”
She was unsure whether she should file a police report but decided that it was important she do so as she is a “proud member” of the LGBTQ community. “I can’t be silent! These hate attacks need to stop!” she wrote. “I know a lot of our community members stay silent when violence happens toward them because of fear… Nobody should go through this, and these cowardly actions should be punished.”
She updated fans on how she was doing after filing the police report.
“For everyone asking me for updates, I’m ok. The police are working on the investigation and that’s all I can say right now. While this experience was horrible, I’m happy the issue and problem has been heard by local and international media,” she said.
She pointed out that LGBTQ pride is important and that “if people wonder why Pride is still needed in such a country as the Netherlands, just take this week as an example!”
She also brought up Rikkie Kolle, who is the first trans woman to win a beauty pageant. Kolle has been facing a “torrent of transphobia” after being crowned Miss Netherlands. Peru pointed out how both of these cases showcase how vital visibility is as the community is still facing brutal attacks. She urged people to not stay silent, especially if they are facing similar attacks.
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She ended her message by thanking everyone for their support and that she will be taking some time for herself.
“I want to thank everyone for your sweet messages and for showing support. This shows that we stick together as both a community and allies,” she wrote. “For now I’m going to take some time for myself to process it my way and come back with more PRIDE than ever!”
