Passengers shut down woman’s vile ‘homophobic’ rant on bus
A bus passenger was subjected to a ‘homophobic’ rant. (Karina Townsley)
A man travelling home from Manchester Pride was defended by a fellow bus passenger after being subjected to a shocking anti-gay tirade.
The unnamed Pride-goer was proudly telling passengers about his day when the abuse began.
“The man was talking to people about how he had put a red bow on a policeman, which raises awareness for HIV,” Karina Townsley told Manchester Evening News.
Townsley shared a video to Facebook which shows the woman calling the man, who was wearing a “homophobic abuse is criminal” t-shirt, “disgusting” and a “f*****”.
Warning: This video contains footage some viewers may find distressing or upsetting.
Calmly, the man replied: “You have the freedom to be who you want to be.
“We can all be who we want to be, especially this weekend.”
Bus driver and passengers defended Pride-goer.
The bus driver leapt to his defence, telling the woman to “keep [her] voice down and mind [her] language”.
Townsley also intervened, saying: He’s not done anything to you, you’re being ignorant, you’re being nasty for no reason.”
She wrote on Facebook: “She was quiet for a while then started her homophobic rant again.” When asked how old she was, the woman reportedly said she was 74 years old.
I thought the most shocking thing was that he was just sitting there taking it.
Townsend told Manchester Evening News that as the woman continued to rage, she got off the bus as her 7-year-old daughter was becoming upset.
“My daughter was shaking, she isn’t used to conflict,” she said.
“I was really shocked at first. I thought, ‘Am I hearing this right?’
“I am bisexual myself and have got lots of gay friends, and to hear things like that is disgusting.
“I thought the most shocking thing was that he was just sitting there taking it. It was like he was used to it.”
Antony Cotton faces off with anti-LGBT+ protestors.
Sadly, the row wasn’t the only incident of anti-LGBT+ abuse over Manchester Pride weekend.
A small group of protestors staged a protest during Saturday’s parade, brandishing placards with anti-gay messages.
Coronation Street star Antony Cotton jumped off the ITV soap’s float when he saw the signs, and told the group to “shut up” before blowing them a kiss.
