Homophobia from Black youths
1995
Will (who is mixed race) talks about the homophobia he has experienced
from black people. "To be honest the only homophobia I've experienced
has been from black youths, they are the ones that hate the fact gay
people exist and they verbalise that hatred, it's to do with culture
and religion. I'm not saying everyone but a lot of the people I have
come across, they say there is no such thing as gay and men should not
be gay, maybe I got it because I am mixed race myself 'How can a mixed
race guy be gay?' and they see it only as white thing."
Will
discusses his feelings while being homophobically abused "It was
horrible, I'm not the only person who's been through it, it's very,
very stressful, you are scared to go out and you don't know what to do.
The people abusing you are bullies and the only way to deal with them
is go to the Council and the police".The first time he was abused, in
1995 aged 21, Will did not know you could go to the police and suffered
the abuse. The second time he was more educated about his rights. "I'd
heard the police had powers, they came round and interviewed the person
abusing me and it stopped."
Contributed by: Will, 33