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?

Actually it would worry me if it were my son. A young gay man I know has been threatened with violence many times and actually physically attacked a few times. The police do not care. The men you saw were brave.

I agree with you it is brave because there are horrible ppl around who would likely call out to them or worse.
I would be worried if it was my son. I wouldn't be able to help it.
Daughter maybe not so much.
You deffo see more women than men.
Don't pretend everyone that there aren't some men around that wouldn't like to take a pop at them especially when drunk with their mates.

I think it's so nice to see. It doesn't feel that long ago that I remember a boy in my class at school - we were in year 11 I think - who got tipsy at a party and tried to kiss another boy, and it became the scandal of the school for months. He was ostracised and had horrible, nasty comments and a lot of bullying, which teachers turned a totally blind eye to. He ended up having a breakdown and leaving, and moving to another school. I'm very glad things are starting to change. But my school experience, despite feeling very recent, was... 30+ years ago, and while it's good that things are moving on, they really haven't moved on enough.

It genuinely wouldn't even register where I live

I hope it becomes the norm too. One of my adult DS is gay so I'd love it if no one thought anything of it.

Where was this? It’s pretty normal where we are. But yes, defiantly mostly men. I don’t think I’ve seen my sister hold hands with her other half.

Lesbians do seem to be less ‘acceptable’.

Thanks. Always get one that wants to twist it and say your homophobic because you mentioned it. Its brave.

In some parts of the U.K. it’s fine. But I don’t see it much where I live. Rural north west, and I know several same sex married couples. And a couple of gay couples were beaten up here last year. Yes still brave in some places.

So common in india
They actually link pinky fingers..
🙈🙈

Wasn’t a lesbian couple beaten up on a London bus relatively recently?

Living in north London most of my life it was not unusual to see same sex couples displaying affection. I didn't see any homophobic incidents either. But now I've moved in to the countryside and I don't think I've seen many gay couples holding hands, if I did I'd probably also be hoping they didn't face any homophobia because it would cross my mind that some people here are backwards and rude.

Well there you go. London, Brighton, parts of Manchester etc are going to be more accepting than most of the rest of the country. You can't think everywhere in the UK is like London though?

I'm not sure I'd even notice!

I don't think it would even register with me.

I've seen loads over the years. It's not unusual.

I have never seen this in my town and if I did I would probably worry for them tbh which is very sad. That being said my town is pretty much still stuck in the 70s for numerous reasons.

God so much virtue signalling on here!

the OP wasn’t saying she had to clutch her pearls today because there were gays about.

she is noting that even now that can still be a brave thing to do.

and I also think that there is clearly a risk of being subject to verbal or physical violence in many many areas of the uk including in london

It would be unusual and brave where I live - a multicultural deprived area. Homophobia rife. Because of this I would definitely bat an eyelid but I’d be thinking ‘how lovely’.

I'm in London and wouldn't turn a hair. I'd probably think that thank fuck it's 2022 and they can.

I remember about 5 years ago being on a train during rush hour and 2 older men, probably in their 60s, were sitting together. One got off at an earlier stop than the other, and they exchanged a kiss which although not a smooch made it clear they were in a relationship. Noone paid any attention. I thought it was sweet, especially as give their age, they'd probably been through a lot of shit in their time. I'm old enough to remember the 80s, HIV/AIDS and Section 28 made it very difficult back then for gay people.

I've seen it many times. Don't bat an eyelid. Perhaps I'm some small villages it might raise an eyebrow but in most places no one would think anything of it.

Doesn't bother me and neither should it bother anyone else.

Unfortunately though my bay friends aren't always able to walk hand in hand openly. They regularly get abuse from narrow minded idiots.

I saw two men holding hands today too and had the very same thoughts. Delighted for them and hoped no one passed comment on them. I had my kids in the car and felt lucky that they're growing up in an era where this is considered ordinary.

My gay friends.

They are men, not horses.

Bloody auto correct.

OP I am with you.

The area I live in is very behind the times, 99 percent of the area population is white and for the first time in my life this week I saw two males holding hands. Some of our elected politicians in this area are homophobic and big conversion therapy supporters. So yes I thought it was very brave and I was so happy to see some progression.

OP is not being homophobic, they are probably from a small area like mine. Jeez some people need a little happy pill....

YABU and patronising.

The very fact you've posted on here shows that you haven't yet actually seen this as entirely 'normal'.