London homophobic attack: Lesbian-couple brutally thrashed for refusing to kiss
What's the story
In a brutal homophobic attack in London, a lesbian couple was thrashed and robbed by some men on a bus after they refused to kiss. 28-year-old Melania Geymonat and her girlfriend Chris were harassed on a night bus by the men after they discovered that the women were a couple; they made sexual gestures and asked them to kiss, which they refused. Here's more.
Incident
Four men approached couple; passed lewd and homophobic comments: Police
The incident took place in the early hours on 30 May when the couple was traveling to Camden (north London). In a Facebook post, Melania gave a detailed account of the attack along with a photo of her and Chris covered in blood. According to police, the women were on the top deck when four men approached them and passed "lewd and homophobic" comments.
Facebook Post
Here's what Melania posted on Facebook after the attack
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Women were attacked and punched several times: Police statement
"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," said the police statement.
Details
Men kept on harassing us, throwing us coins: Melania
According to Melania's Facebook post, the men started harassing her and Chris after they saw them kissing. "They started behaving like hooligans, demanding that we kissed so they could enjoy watching, calling us 'lesbians' and describing sexual positions," she wrote. Melania said she tried to defuse the situation but the men "kept on harassing us, throwing us coins and becoming more enthusiastic about it."
Post
Couple left bloodied as the men beat them up
Melania wrote that Chris went to fight the men as they kept harassing them. "On an impulse, I went over there...to find her face bleeding...three of them beating her up. The next thing I know is I'm being punched," she stated. "I got dizzy at the sight of my blood and fell back," she said, adding the bus stopped and police arrived later.
Violence
'Violence has become a common thing'
"...What upsets me the most is that VIOLENCE HAS BECOME A COMMON THING, that sometimes it's necessary to see a woman bleeding after having been punched to feel some kind of impact," wrote Melania. "We have to endure verbal harassment AND CHAUVINIST, MISOGYNISTIC AND HOMOPHOBIC VIOLENCE because when you stand up for yourself s**t like this happens," she added.
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London Mayoir Sadiq Khan condemned the attack
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, took to Twitter to condemn the homophobic attack on the lesbian couple calling it a "disgusting, misogynistic attack." He added, "Hate crimes against the LGBT+ community will not be tolerated in London."
Twitter Post
Here's what the Mayor of London tweeted
This was a disgusting, misogynistic attack. Hate crimes against LGBT+ people will not be tolerated in London. The @metpoliceuk are investigating. If you have any information about this call 101 to report it.
— Mayor of London (@MayorofLondon) June 7, 2019