A same-sex couple say they were attacked on the top deck of a London bus, after refusing to kiss for a gang of men.
Melania Geymonat and her girlfriend Chris say they were attacked in an apparent homophobic attack in North London.
The Ryanair employee, Melania said that she and her girlfiend were travelling on the top deck of the bus when a group of men began to harass the couple, calling on the two to kiss.
When the couple refused, the gang allegedly became violent towards the couple, according to The Metro.
Melania released a picture of the couple the moments after the attack, which shows them covered in blood with numerous facial injuries.
Melania said, “They wanted us to kiss so they could watch us. I tried to defuse the situation as I’m not a confrontational person, telling them to please leave us alone as Chris wasn’t feeling well.’
“The next thing I remember was Chris in the middle of them and they were beating her.
“I didn’t think about it and went in. I was pulling her back and trying to defend her so they started beating me up.
“I don’t even know if I was knocked unconscious. I felt blood, I was bleeding all over my clothes and all over the floor. ‘We went downstairs and the police were there.”
Melania said that at least one of the alleged attackers spoke Spanish but the remaining gang all spoke with a British accent.
Lewd and homophobic comments
A spokesperson said, “Police are appealing for witnesses and information after two women were assaulted and robbed in a homophobic attack on a bus in Camden. ‘The incident happened at approximately 02:30hrs on Thursday, 30 May after the two women, both aged in their 20s, boarded a N31 bus in West Hampstead.
“As they sat on the top deck they were approached by a group of four males who began to make lewd and homophobic comments to them.
“The women were then attacked and punched several times before the males ran off the bus. A phone and bag were stolen during the assault. ‘Both women were taken to hospital for treatment to facial injuries.”
Anyone who witnessed the incident or who has information is asked to contact police on 101 or tweet @MetCC and quote CAD737/30May. Alternatively, Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111
LGBT couples don’t feel they can hold hands in public
THEGAYUK.com recently conducted a flash poll on social media, asking 200 people from the LGBT+ community whether they felt they could hold the hand of their same-sex partner, where opposite-sex partners could and would hold theirs – and the results are staggering.
Over 80 per cent (85%) of those who answered the poll said that they didn’t feel they could hold their same-sex partner’s hand in public in the UK. Only 15 per cent of those who answered said they would feel comfortable.
Speaking about the findings, editor of THEGAYUK.com, Jake Hook said, “What this poll shows is very troubling. Despite LGBT+ people having almost equal legal rights in the UK, our community still don’t feel that we’re societally equal.
“Gay and bisexual men and women should be able to walk down any street in the UK, where their straight counterparts hold hands and feel that they can do the same without ridicule, attack or comment”.
