Edinburgh couple forced to leave home following months of homophobic abuse
A gay couple from Edinburgh have spoken of feeling like they had no option but to leave their home of years following months of homophobic abuse.
Daniel Donaldson, 34 and Arran Southall, 28, spoke to the Edinburgh News about the attacks, which included having bricks thrown through their windows by children as young as 12.
The couple’s car windscreen was also smashed, Donaldson told the News, as they were called “beasts”, and “sex offenders” by the attackers.
Donaldson, a lawyer said: “Me and my partner stuck out like a sore thumb and it was almost like ‘we are the only gays in the village’.
“I was getting comments shouted at me from behind hedges saying if you don’t talk to us we are going to report you and your boyfriend for being big gays.”
The couple praised efforts by the police to tackle the abuse, including three young people being charged, but criticised the youth justice system, as they were allowed to reoffend.
They have now said they will move away because “it is just completely out of control”.
