Lesbian couple assaulted on a London bus because when they refused to kiss in front of a gang of men.

[AngeloMysterioso]

metro.co.uk/2019/06/07/gay-couple-beaten-refusing-kiss-mens-entertainment-9854367/

There aren’t really words to describe how sickened I am by this. In the city I’m proud to live in, in the middle of fucking Pride month, two women have been beaten up because they didn’t want to put on a show for some disgusting men.

This is anecdotal, obviously, but I'm bi and lived in London for a long time. I was only ever harassed once by myself / with a male partner, but it happened I would say 50% of the time when I was with a female partner. Obviously I'm not saying that straight women aren't ever harassed but my experience was that homophobic abuse and harassment was much more prevalent. Rooted in misogyny, obviously (as most homophobia is, let's face it), but definitely primarily homophobic.

I'm not trying to parcel it off, I'm just trying to keep the focus on the fact that this was a hate crime against lesbians. Of course that means misogyny played a part. But the victims reported it as a homophobic attack and I think it's important to keep that, and lesbians, centred in the conversation rather than straight women, who, while victims of misogynistic attacks on a regular basis, don't face the same persecution for their romantic relationships.

Absolutely agree.

Where was the bus driver he has cctv in his bus I thought we were safe on buses

You think that they’d have demanded that two gay men put on a kissing show for them? I’m doubtful

Sadly I believe lots of men equate lesbianism as being all about the function of sex. They felt entitled to have these women perform for them. Porn will be partly to blame for this.

@daryan20
I guess the driver was driving the bus. His/her job is not to monitor CCTV upstairs and confront violent people but call police who did arrive but not before suspects got away.

What I find strange is police appealing for witnesses and showing us graphic photos of the victims injuries but not the bus CCTV so the suspects can be identified

I assume the driver was calling the police as the women said when they went downstairs the police were there.

What I find strange is police appealing for witnesses and showing us graphic photos of the victims injuries but not the bus CCTV so the suspects can be identified

This. It makes me feel this isn't being taken very seriously. They haven't bothered with a description of the attackers or released any CCTV so it seems not to bothered about catching them?

I know police resources are stretched but this is a nasty violent homophobic and misogynistic crime.

Shocking. I hope they find the perpetrators quickly. for the victims if by any chance they're on MN.

This is homophobia. They would have sexually harassed a straight woman but they would not have beat her up. Lesbians are a threat to these men therefore they must be hurt. It's horrific.
I recommend watching Nanette on Netflix and then I recommend getting v angry

Sadly I believe lots of men equate lesbianism as being all about the function of sex.

Lesbian relationships only exist because men find it a turn-on, claims study:

www.independent.co.uk/life-style/lesbian-relationships-men-turn-on-same-sex-female-attraction-menelaos-apostolou-cyprus-university-a7766606.html

Such thuggish agressive behaviour, it disgusts me. London as elsewhere in the UK has plenty of it. Hope the cctv has caught their faces as probably the only way they will catch them. Lack of police and transport staff means it is too easy for these dicks to behave like this.

Those buses have multiple cameras. They'll have been filmed getting and off as well as sitting during the journey. It is odd they haven't released their pictures.

Of course it's disgusting.

It doesn't mean ALL the men are potentially violent against women. You wouldn't say all mothers are potential abusers because of the cases where a mother has been recognised guilty, would you?

I don't understand this:
was only ever harassed once by myself / with a male partner, but it happened I would say 50% of the time when I was with a female partner.
I don't know any of my girlfriends or sisters who have been harassed when with another female, and it's quite common for 2 female to be together for lunch, diner, in bars and so on. HOW would people even know you are with your partner anyway?

Homophobia is still rife in the UK. I'm a straight male, was walking through Manchester with another straight male on Pride day a couple of years ago. We were heckled twice by groups of young women (chants of 'batty boys' etc).

Obviously I was aware that some people are homophobic, but that 30 minute walk (on Pride day of all days) was eye opening as to how prevalent and public it is.

I think that, if you're straight, it's easy to think we're 'nearly there' in terms of acceptance, but we're really, really not.

Perhaps they were walking down the street with their arms round each other, or holding hands? Are you never affectionate with your DP/DH outside your home?

Sorry, that was to MorondelaFrontera

Are you never affectionate with your DP/DH outside your home?

I am not 12!

Morondela, you don't understand it because you're not a lesbian.

Which is completely understandable - how would you know what it's like?

But it doesn't mean that out lesbian couples have the same experience as straight female friends or siblings.

Even two women holding hands or one touching the other affectionately has been enough to alert straight men in the pub to the presence of a lesbian couple, in my experience.

I don't know if this has already been commented but arrests have been made now.

I am a lesbian and this breaks my heart.

We never display affection in public in fear of being laughed at/shouted at/ attacked.

Sad, sad world.

I hope the ladies are ok and that the men are caught.

you don't understand it because you're not a lesbian.
true. I was just making the point that even if I am arm in arm with one of my sisters, hug a girlfriend or have "intimate" diner or conversation at a bar with a close friend or sister, I have never seen any reaction whatsoever. It just makes me wonder how can someone have such a different experience to be harassed around "50% of the time" - I mean it's huge! Not dismissing their experience, just wondering why that is.

that's good news @mummystruggles

Longines I don’t know why this hasn’t occurred to me before. I sometimes sadly see gay men holding hands and looking a little nervous. I’ve never really realised the danger to lesbians from publicly showing affection.
That must be bloody awful. I’m so sorry.

Obviously the way you touch a partner’s hand is very different to a platonic touch

Morondela, I think people are generally quite perceptive when it comes to body language, the way people talk to each other, etc, so even if the couple aren't kissing, it can become evident pretty quickly that they are a couple.

I tend to notice women holding hands when I see it, and I feel like I can usually figure out whether they're a couple or just friends/relatives. When I'm with a date/girlfriend in public, men often watch us for a bit or discuss with their mates before they start hassling us, and even if we deliberately stop being so affectionate at that point to avoid their attention, our awkwardness about it all probably signals to them that we're gay and self-conscious about it anyway.

Whereas if I'm with a female friend, I don't feel self-conscious or vulnerable and I don't run through in my head things like "shit, did I kiss her a minute ago? I can't remember - I wonder if I did and they saw. Maybe they saw her stroke my hair? I can't recall exactly what we did because we were just being normal before we noticed the guys in the corner talking about us".