Dunedin retail worker Connor Blackie said he was walking down George St to a friend's party on Saturday, March 27, when a vanload of males began hurling abuse at him and his female friend.
"They were really trying to rile us up - they were trying to pick a fight.
"Obviously, we were acting quite theatrically as we walked up the street.
For these guys, it wouldn't have been hard to grab their attention.
"They pulled up alongside us and gave us some more grief. The homophobic content was terrible ...
"I told them to get lost. The door rolled open and about six guys got out."
Mr Blackie said he was punched in the face several times and kicked when he fell to the ground.
Other than a black eye and bruised cheek, he was not seriously injured.
Mr Blackie said it was not the first time he had been attacked in public.
Four of his gay friends had also been assaulted in Dunedin during the past two months.
"It felt like I was being targeted, and with a lot of my friends having similar stories, I'm beginning to feel unsafe in my own home town."
Mr Blackie said he reported the assault to Dunedin police but the culprits were not found.
Acting Senior Sergeant Chris George said it was difficult to say there had been an increase in assaults on gay people in Dunedin, because no statistics on the victims' sexual status were recorded.
"But we are aware that gay people can be targeted. I'm aware there have been random street attacks on gay people in the last couple of months but we're not sure if they are related."
He urged gay victims of assault to contact Dunedin police.
"We do take a dim view of it and we're keen to bring the offenders to court," he said.
