A trio of drag queens who rushed to the aid of a Sydney man during an alleged homophobic attack said the assailants were shocked and scared when they came face-to-face with the unlikely heroes.
Ivan Flinn, originally from New Zealand, was on a night out in Darlinghurst on Oxford Street’s infamous gay strip when he claims he was targeted by a group of rowdy people.
Mr Flinn, 34, said the group called him a series of homophobic slurs before he was savagely coward punched – dislocating his jaw – and shoved to the ground.
‘There were heaps of homophobic slurs, ‘you fu***** fa****, you queer c**,’ I heard fa**** so many times,’ Mr Flinn told Daily Mail Australia.
Three drag queens who rushed to the aid of a Sydney man during an alleged homophobic attack said the assailants were shocked when they came face-to-face with the trio of unlikely heroes (from left to right is Vybe, Ivy League and Coco Jumbo)
Sydney man Ivan Flinn said he was savagely coward punched in an alleged homophobic attack while on a night out in Darlinghurst on Oxford Street’s infamous gay strip
Ivy League (right) and her performing colleagues Coco Jumbo (left) and Vybe (centre) had just treated themselves to a kebab following work when they witnessed the altercation
Drag queens Ivy League, Coco Jumbo and Vybe told Sunrise on Wednesday they had just treated themselves to a kebab following work when all hell broke loose.
‘I noticed this rowdy group of people coming into the kebabs shop and screaming all kinds of insane things that should not be said on our street,’ Ivy said.
The trio were quick to offer a lending hand and fought off Mr Flinn’s attackers, ruining a wig, clothing and their nails in the process.
‘Oh Honey, they were scared, they did not know what was going to hit them – and we didn’t even know that we we’re going to hit them,’ Coco laughed as she told Sunrise hosts Sam Armytage and David Koch.
When asked what the attackers’ faces looked like when the drag queens stepped in, Coco mimicked their ‘terrified’ expression.
‘Bless them,’ she said.
‘Oh Honey, they were scared, they did not know what was going to hit them – and we didn’t even know that we we’re going to hit them,’ Coco laughed (pictured right)
The trio are performer’s in Darlinghurst. Ivy (centre) was injured during the altercation but has since healed
‘When I noticed the drag queens, all I could think of was ‘thank God,” Mr Flinn (pictured) said
Mr Flinn said he was stunned when he saw his dolled up knights in shining armour came to the rescue.
‘After the punch I was stunned but the next thing I knew Ivy went in and was scrapping with the guy who punched me. They’re in the middle of the road, cars swerving around them, tooting, and I saw the guy rip her wig off,’ he said.
‘I really thought I was going to die, I was praying for a hero and I got three angels.
‘When I noticed the drag queens, all I could think of was ‘thank God,” he added.
At the time, Ivy told The Advertiser she ‘said, “you want to pick on little guys, you’ll need to fight the big freak. I’m a man underneath all of this, so let’s go”.’
‘Like Destiny’s Child they strutted in and saved me. Punches were flying. Hair was flicking. Nails were breaking. I was stunned on footpath, thankful drag queens exist,’ Mr Finn later wrote online.
As a thanks for their support, IT project manager Mr Flinn (pictured) took it upon himself to set up a Go Fund Me page to help recuperate some money for the trio’s damaged outfits
Coco, whose real name is Luke Waqa, claims to have flung one man into the gutter after he saw Ivy in a spot of bother.
Ivy claims to have been enraged after overhearing the homophobic slurs and witnessing the alleged unprovoked attack on Mr Flinn.
And the alias’ two companions also waded in to support as one revealed a sporting history allowed for an air of confidence when approaching the attackers.
‘I don’t think they knew what they were getting themselves into. I used to play rugby league. Plus I have an older brother,’ Coco said.
Vybe and her two companions were left to save the day after the alleged coward punch
Ivy claims to have been enraged after overhearing the homophobic slurs and witnessing the alleged unprovoked attack on Mr Flinn
Coco revealed a sporting history allowed for an air of confidence when approaching the attackers
Oxford Street is one of Sydney’s most vibrant streets and has a range of nightspots along its long stretch from Bondi Junction to the CBD
The three dancers claim their presence scared the ‘burly men’ off as their fighting skills left little to be desired.
Ivy claims to have suffered minor injuries but has since recovered.
However, the performer’s wigs, outfits and nails were damaged during the altercation.
‘The most important thing is that Ivan’s ok and that this doesn’t happen again,’ Vybe told Sunrise
As a thanks for their support, IT project manager Mr Flinn took it upon himself to set up a Go Fund Me page to help recuperate some money for the trio’s damaged outfits.
The page was an instant success and has since raised over $1,000 dollars from dozens of donations.
A NSW police spokesperson has confirmed they are investigating the incident and said homophobic attacks are taken very seriously.
‘The police came just in the nick of time really, they came just to clean up the mess at the end,’ Ivy joked on Wednesday.
‘We love a man in uniform.’
The Darlinghurst stretch of Oxford Street is notorious for its scenes of gay pride and is filled with gay bars and nightclubs
Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.