Gay couple subjected to vile homophobic attacks on consecutive nights say 'it just doesn't make sense'

Vile abuse: Chris Chapman and Jonathan Carter were subjected to homophobic rants on two consecutive nights
Chris Chapman
Fiona Simpson|Jamie Bullen17 December 2016

A gay couple who were subjected to a vile tirade of homophobic abuse on two consecutive nights on public transport across the capital said: “This is London in 2016, it just did not make sense.”

Tower Hamlets councillor Chris Chapman and his partner Jonathon Carter told of how they were branded “disgusting” as they shared a kiss on a Jubilee Line Tube train on Friday.

The councillor for Blackwall and Cubitt Town said he and Mr Carter, who works as a marketing manager for Centaur Media, were told “people do not want to see that here” after they kissed on the train between London Bridge and Bermondsey on Friday.

Cllr Chapman told the Standard: “He told us that if we wanted to have physical contact then we should get off of the train as it was disgusting.

“My boyfriend pointed out that kissing was entirely acceptable and that he should be quiet.

“He then continued to verbally abuse us before his friend then proceeded to make animal noises at us, drawing the attention of most of the carriage.”

The pair said they were left “shaken and upset” as the thugs left the train at North Greenwich.

However, as they comforted each other in the street, the couple were subjected to further abuse as a woman walked past and said: “Go and get a room, [that’s] disgusting.”

The horrific incident came just a day after the couple suffered abuse on a DLR train travelling between Bank and Woolwich Arsenal.

Cllr Chapman explained how they were threatened with a “torrent of homophobic slurs” from two young women.

He said: “We became aware that two girls were discussing the fact that I had my arm around him.

“One expressed disgust for this whilst the other pointed out that living in London she was used to ‘having to see it’.”

As the women left the train at Westferry they were said to have laughed and hurled more abuse at the couple.

Cllr Chapman said the abuse had “affected the way he and his partner behave” and claimed they were left feeling “uncomfortable” holding hands as they walked to a local shop.

He added: “As we approached holding hands we heard a group of rowdy men ahead of us.

“We both flinched and hesitated before letting go of one another's hand.

“It dawned on us that the abuse we had suffered has altered the way in which we behave, the way in which two people demonstrate their love for one another.

“Of all the elements of the two nights, this was the one that hurt us the most.”

He said that he had been left in a “state of disbelief”: “Neither of us were at fault but knowing the other was feeling the same way, we couldn't help but say sorry.

“This is not to be interpreted as being apologists for the fact that we are gay, but rather an expression of real sorrow that being gay is still something that elicits such hatred.”

The incidents come just weeks after the manager of iconic gay nightclub Heaven called on Londoners to report hate crime.

Both were reported to the Metropolitan Police and British Transport Police.

A spokesman for the Met said BTP were investigating.

BTP have been contacted for a comment.

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