A lesbian couple claim they were jeered at by staff after they kissed at a takeaway restaurant.
Alice Bowerman, 31, and Terri-Ann Metcalfe, 34, were in Marmaris in Nottingham at 3.30 in the morning when staff told them they “do not want to see that”.
Ms Bowerman said she was left “shocked and angry” by the abuse, which Nottingham Police recorded as a “hate incident”.
”I was shocked. I asked if they would react like that to a man and a woman kissing and they said, ‘No, because that’s normal’," she said. "It was nothing outrageous, just a normal kiss – like any couple would do on a night out.”
Ms Bowerman added: ”I’ve been in same-sex relationships since I was about 19 and I’ve never experienced anything like this before.”
She said none of the other customers intervened during the “humiliating” experience.
“I’ve always felt safe in Nottingham but this has disgusted me,” she added. You get lots of people asking why we need Pride nowadays but these kind of things reiterate why it’s so important.
“I want them to know that no, they can’t say these things, and we will do something about it.”
Nottinghamshire Police said: ”A hate incident has been reported and officers are continuing to investigate. We’d like to thank the victim for reporting and we will be providing the appropriate support to them.”
The Independent has repeatedly tried to contact Marmaris for comment.
It comes months after Melania Geymonat, 28, and Christine Hannigan, 29, a lesbian couple were allegedly attacked after refusing to kiss while travelling on a London night bus.
