A 29-year-old trans man from Switzerland is recovering after a violent assault that he believes was fueled by transphobic hate. The victim, Morgan Zuli Bahon, a popular social media creator and outspoken LGBTQ+ advocate, says he was beaten by multiple men outside a Geneva bar earlier this month — and the experience has left both physical and emotional scars. The incident happened on Sunday, July 14, in the Cornavin district of Geneva, a bustling city center known for its diversity but also for issues like drug use and street prostitution.
That afternoon, Morgan was trying to recover a lost backpack from the night before. He’d been out partying and misplaced the bag, which contained personal belongings including around 200 Swiss francs (about $225), AirPods, an iPhone charger, and other items. Though tired from the night out, he ventured out in hopes of finding it — and instead walked straight into a nightmare.
What Actually Happened
Morgan told Bored Panda that a woman he encountered in Cornavin pointed him toward a bar called Golden VIP, suggesting his backpack might have ended up there. The bar sits just a few blocks from Geneva’s Rue de Berne, an area often associated with the city’s red-light district. Still holding out hope, Morgan entered the bar and asked the bartender — the only staff member present — whether anyone had seen his lost bag. Her response, he says, was immediately aggressive.
Things escalated quickly after Morgan ordered a beer and presented ID that still listed his gender as female — a legal detail he hasn’t updated yet since starting his transition in 2021. “She demanded I leave,” Morgan recalled, stunned by her hostility. He questioned whether she recognized him from his TikTok or Instagram platforms, where he’s built a following of over 190,000 by sharing honest, often humorous insights into his life as a trans man. That’s when things took a dark turn.
Aftermath
According to Morgan, the barmaid shoved him. He admits to lightly tapping her back in response, but says what followed was far more serious: a group of men charged at him, dragged him outside, and began to beat him — in broad daylight, on a public street. “I’m certain it wasn’t just one man,” Morgan said, pushing back against the bar owner’s claims that only one person was involved. “I remember more than one man being over me.” Security footage reportedly reviewed by Bored Panda backs up his memory, showing at least three men forcibly removing him from the bar.
The injuries Morgan suffered were extensive: a broken nose, a concussion, retinal damage, a sprained ankle, and multiple bruises and hematomas. Making things worse, the trauma triggered severe migraines connected to Morgan’s multiple sclerosis — a chronic illness he was officially diagnosed with last November, though he’s lived with its symptoms for more than a decade. One of the most alarming details came from Morgan’s doctor. “The surgeon told me my facial scans suggest I was kicked while lying on the ground,” he explained. “That’s how my nose was fractured.”
Healing Process
Despite being hospitalized for a week, Morgan says he’s now focused on healing and gathering the evidence he needs to press charges. “I had to postpone my surgery,” he said, “and with my MS, I just needed to focus on getting better before taking legal action.” But that legal action is coming — and so is his continued activism. Just days after the attack, Morgan confirmed he still plans to serve as an ambassador at the upcoming LGBTQ+ Pride March in Martigny, Valais on July 20. “I promised I would go,” he said. “And honestly, I need it — for my mental health.”
Unfortunately, Morgan’s experience mirrors a disturbing pattern in Switzerland. Anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination has been rising, with 2022 marking a record number of reports. Trans people — especially non-binary individuals — made up nearly a third of those cases, according to data from LGBTQ+ rights organizations like the Transgender Network Switzerland, Pink Cross, and the Lesbian Organization Switzerland.
Crime Reporting
Worse still, most victims never report the crimes to police. Of the small fraction who do, many are reportedly dismissed or not taken seriously. “In Switzerland, we have some of the most important international human rights institutions — the UN, the Red Cross,” Morgan said. “But when it comes to hate crimes like this, there’s very little protection.”
For now, Morgan is leaning on his community and his platform to keep pushing the conversation forward. The violence he endured has left lasting damage — but it’s also lit a fire. “When I was still conscious enough to speak,” he remembered, “I looked up at them and said, ‘Aren’t you ashamed? Four men against one trans guy?’” It’s a question still echoing as he fights for justice — not just for himself, but for every trans person living in fear of being attacked for simply existing.