Gay couple subjected to homophobic attack in east London

A gay couple were subjected to a homophobic attack in East London on Friday night (June 20).

23-year-old Walter Adrian and his boyfriend, who has asked to remain anonymous, were branded “faggots” by a group of youths, who proceeded to physically assault them.

The couple were withdrawing money from the ATM at Barclays on Whitechapel Road when six or seven Bangladeshi teenagers approached them.

Adrian told the London Evening Standard: “We weren’t even holding hands or kissing or anything, but all the comments were based on us being gay. One of them said ‘fucking faggots’ so we wanted to try and leave and my partner pushed one of them but then they got physical.

“They punched him and then there were six or seven of them just going at us while we were cornered against the wall. They were saying, ‘this is our street, this is our area, get out of here’, just because they thought we were gay. It happens a lot round this area and East London.

He was left unconscious after the attack, and has bruises around his temple and stomach. His boyfriend has a swollen jaw. The couple were hit at least ten times by the youths.

“We weren’t even acting gay and that’s what’s upsetting. Whether anyone is gay or not you just can’t feel safe. You’re scared of being attacked and afraid to go out by yourself,” Adrian added.

Adrian’s boyfriend said that the attack has left him feeling like he has to “‘gay-down’ a bit”, and change the way he dresses.

“We are not very gay, we don’t wear pink or glitter, and they still picked on us. We are just scared and afraid it might happen again and it just shouldn’t be like that. You get these patrols that make you feel like you’re trespassing in their area. I think it’s a clash as people are starting to move into multicultural areas,” he explained.

A Scotland Yard spokesperson has confirmed that the incident is still being investigated.

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