A gay couple shared a horrifying photo of the aftermath of an attack that took place after they refused to kiss for the entertainment of men.
The disgusting assault occurred last month on a London bus, as Melania Geymonat and her girlfriend Chris were returning from a night out. There, they were confronted by a gang of young men, who noticed the pair were a couple and implored them to show each other affection while they watched.
Melania, 28, who comes from Uruguay and lives in Bishop's Stortford in Essex, told The Metro:
"They wanted us to kiss so they could watch us. I tried to defuse the situation as I’m not a confrontational person, telling them to please leave us alone as Chris wasn’t feeling well.
"The next thing I remember was Chris in the middle of them and they were beating her. I didn’t think about it and went in. I was pulling her back and trying to defend her so they started beating me up. I don’t even know if I was knocked unconscious. I felt blood, I was bleeding all over my clothes and all over the floor. We went downstairs and the police were there."
Melania, who is taking a break from medical studies, said that there were four or five men that attacked her and her girlfriend, one of which was speaking Spanish. She said that she felt safe as a gay woman in London, but released the photos to raise awareness of the hardships that LGBTQ+ people still face on a regular basis.
"It’s not something isolated, it’s common. We were seen as entertainment, that’s what makes me so angry," Melania revealed.
A statement from the London Metropolitan Police reads:
"The incident happened at approximately 02:30hrs on Thursday, 30 May after the two women, both aged in their 20s, boarded a N31 bus in West Hampstead.
"As they sat on the top deck they were approached by a group of four males who began to make lewd and homophobic comments to them. 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.
Anyone who witnessed the incident or who has information that could assist the investigation is asked to contact police on 101 or tweet @MetCC and quote CAD737/30May. Alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111."