Men holding hands in the Street

[girlfriend44]

Saw two men walking along hand in hand earlier and I admired their bravery and thought hope nobody starts on them.
Have seen women before but not men?
Do you think they were brave. Would you be scared for them if they were your sons?
Brave men. Perhaps it's something we will see more of in the future?

It is unusual in places outside of massive cities. As is seeing lots of people of colour. Most people don't have an issue as they're not twats but its still unusual, it's insulting that people in more diverse places can't understand that.

www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/news/20089343.fathers-heartbreak-devastating-homophobic-attack-leaves-son-hospital/

And just in case Glasgow is feeling left out.

@CareeringLi

All I’ve received is mocking and nasty criticism. Nothing more than that.
I merely wrote down my experiences - seems as though many have a problem with what I learned, as an individual, or the way I wrote it.
The only thing I’ve learned is that I’ve forgotten that MN has to have a target and I’m it for today, merely for telling my story. I’ve learned not to share about anything - just to be a passive observer, because to share is to be attacked for it with mocking and criticism and over-the-top guesses about my life and intentions.
It’ll be somebody else’s turn soon.
Absolutely nothing constructive here. Nothing, because MN rarely works that way. Surely you know that.

🙄

As has already been pointed out, not all areas of the country (or other countries) are the same. If you live in London or Brighton, sure, it's nothing. Where I live it would be very unusual, but no-one would care. Where some people live, it's unusual because it'd be asking for trouble.

Be glad that you live somewhere where it's normal and safe. OP clearly doesn't.

The examples of homophobic attacks I posted are from Dublin, London, Glasgow and Edinburgh. 4 cities which pride themselves on how cool, liberal and forward- thinking they are.

I don’t agree. Ok I do live in a very lovely middle class bohemian part of london but really nobody would give it a thought/second glance around here. You’d be braver to challenge them actually because THAT would be unacceptable.

Homophobia is still very real. Seeing gay men openly holding hands in the street is absolutely not the norm for 'most people'. It just doesn't happen in our city, and it is definately a brave thing to do.

Be glad that you live somewhere where it's normal and safe. OP clearly doesn't

What's normal and safe? London, Dublin, Glasgow or Edinburgh?

Yes, I'd think it's brave. Although straight people don't have to think twice about whether it's safe to hold hands in the street, I doubt there's anywhere that it wouldn't at least cross a gay couples mind that holding hands might lead to abuse. It shouldn't be that way, of course.

I absolutely agree with the point here, but would just add - it's sometimes not even as simple as location. You could live in a place that seems very accepting, and still run into people who are not. It was in London that a lesbian couple were beaten up, and it made the news, quite recently. I've also known of people being assaulted in Brighton, and Hebden Bridge, and all sorts of places where you'd think it'd all be 'ok'. You can't ever rule out the nastiness of bigots.

Some people are making themselves look really thick here by pretending homophobia doesn't still exist in 2022.

I'm embarrassed for those who think they're hilarious by asking if the OP has travelled back to the 1950s/60s etc.

Take your blindfolds off and step out of your little bubbles.

@Londoncallingme I've seen a gay couple who were kissing, verbally abused and bottles thrown at them on the number 8 bus going through Bethnal Green.

@HoliMooli

And there you go putting words in my mouth. I never said all gay people were like that - I said my friends were. That’s just misrepresentation.
And you’re damn right I told my truth - as in I did not lie.
Does MN prefer lying now? They must if that’s such a huge problem.

Normal in some places, risky in other places.

Attacks against same sex couples are common unfortunately.

It’s not that you’d never have to think about it in Brighton, either. I wouldn’t want to run into a stag party holding my wife’s hand, for example.

I can’t believe the number of people saying this is a commonplace thing to see 🙄. It’s still very much not the norm and in sadly too many places would still be a brave thing to do 😢.

Mystifying. I see it absolutely all the time, everywhere. Sometimes men kiss too. So?

And - I am just slightly thinking out loud - but I wonder how many people who say they often see men holding hands, are thinking of very young men? I certainly think it's become more normal to see young men holding hands. But 60-something blokes in Sainsburys jeans and rugby shirts? Less likely. I'm not saying it's good or bad, but I think age plays a role here.

I think it's homophobic to start a thread saying you think it's odd that you saw men walking down the street holding hands.

Yes, there's still massive homophobia in this country. But I don't think the OP started this thread in good faith.

I'm touched by the naivety of some posters on here re London etc.

I live in London so no big deal, today I say two guys holding hands, and for variety one of them was wearing a skirt. Re what’s acceptable in other societies, I grew up in North Africa and men of all ages (from teens to guys in their 80s ) holding hands is completely commonplace. However there is very little gay identity there ( publicly at least, it would be too dangerous); but probably plenty of gay activity especially before marriage.

How many 60+ heterosexual couples do you see holding hands?

Quite.

I've been very comfortable holding hands with s same sex partner in some parts of every city I have visited (other than a few obvious exceptions ie. Dubai).
I have also been aware enough of myself to absolutely NOT hold her hand in some places of every city I have visited.

I am very lucky to feel genuinely very comfortable with it in all the little nooks of my rural area of Scotland - I'm sure that is unusual.

Hate crimes are not rare, discrimination is not rare - I think the premise of the OP is a bit ridiculous but it's definitely at least a bit brave, in some places and for some people it's incredibly so.

Um ... lots? Where I live (so sorry: not London!) it is common.