It’s 2020 and there’s a global health crisis, yet homophobes are still posting vile threatening notes on this couple’s door
Staffordshire Police are investigating the incidents as a homophobic hate crime. (Gary Whalley/ Facebook)
Police are investigating a hate crime after a couple in Stoke-on-Trent revealed two homophobic notes that were posted on their door within three days.
According to StokeonTrentLive, the couple found the first handwritten note posted on the door of their home in Fenton, Stoke-on-Trent, on May 7.
It read: “Everyone knows you are gay and we don’t want you living here so you better leave soon otherwise…”
The second, just three days later, said: “This is another note to say I don’t like gays. This is from people who don’t like gays.”
The unnamed woman shared her experience on Facebook, and added that she had contacted the police after the second note.
“You hear about homophobia in the world but I’ve personally never experienced any,” she wrote. “I was quite shocked to have received this.”
“It’s not very nice knowing people have watched us and then gone out their way to do this,” she added.
The couple’s neighbours and friend rallied around them, sending messages of love and support.
Gary Whalley, a friend of the couple, shared pictures of the notes on Facebook and wrote: “This is the second time this has happened now to friends of mine in Fenton… Not happy at all!
“I’ve lived around here for 16 years plus and I’m a massive gay and no one else seems to care! However who ever the parents are to these kids… need to have words! Disgusting behaviour.”
Although the writing on the notes appears child-like, others suggested that it could have been a way for the perpetrator to disguise their handwriting.
One person said: “This is really horrible. It looks like a kid’s writing but you never know if it’s someone trying to disguise their writing or who else could be involved.
“It’s disgusting that this happens and you need to make sure you and yours are safe.”
“How horrible,” another said. “I bet the majority of your street would be ashamed to know someone had done this. People can be so downright nasty.
“This person has either purposefully disguised their handwriting to look like a child’s or they are simply illiterate and would be very easily distinguished by their attempted scrawl.”
Staffordshire Police are investigating the incidents as a homophobic hate crime, and are appealing for witnesses.
A spokesperson said: “Police were contacted at 10.20am on Monday to a report of a hate crime.
“A note was left outside of a property on Berdmore Street in Stoke-on-Trent. Any witnesses or anyone with information is asked to contact us.”
