Yob ‘hurls homophobic abuse at gay man’ after argument between passengers on busy bus
Shocking footage allegedly shows stranger shouting insults at a gay passenger
THIS is the sickening moment a gay man on his way home from a Pride festival appears to be attacked by a homophobic bigot on a packed bus.
Police are investigating the alleged verbal assault on Rhys Smith, 23, as he travelled home in Leith, Edinburgh.
His apparent abuser can be heard shouting "you probably take it up the a******e" in the vile video that has already been seen thousands of times.
Rhys, who said he filmed the argument to shame the "stupid fool", was returning from from the city's annual Gay Pride event.
He had earlier taken a selfie with Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon at the celebration of gay and trans rights.
But he seems to have been made the target of shocking homophobic abuse on his trip home.
Although it's not clear what triggered the argument, Rhys claims he could hear the man insulting him.
In the video, he can be heard asking the alleged attacker: “Are we going down that road?
“Is that what you don’t like?”
The man, who appears to be in his late 60s, replies: “Well you look like it.”
Rhys' friend can be heard replying: “Look at the f*****g state of you”.
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The man, who reveals to the pair that he is retired, repeatedly calls Rhys an "a**e".
He then shocks passengers further when he makes a crude reference to a sex act.
Police Scotland said they are treating the incident as a hate crime.
Rhys wrote on Facebook: “I hope this get shared so this stupid fool is shamed!”
He added: “If I was still in my drag I’d have kind of understood it or at least understood why me.
“Apologies for the language and the way we reacted!
“Probably not the most composed mature approach.
“However on the spot, the rage and anger took us over!
“We did nothing to provoke this at all.
"We were exhausted and just having chats and giggles on the bus."
Speaking on Monday about the incident, Mr Smith said he had never suffered abuse to this extent before.
He said he's used to experiencing "odd looks and giggles and smart comments usually but nothing to this effect.
"We had just had literally the best day.
“It had been so nice to see everyone and have such great fun with friends and family.
"Me and my friend had gone as Edina and Patsy from Absolutely Fabulous but by the time we were on the bus we had been home and changed.
"I don't want to say he ruined the day but it definitely put a massive dampener on things."
You did nothing wrong. You're happy, young and clearly he's jealous of that fabulous wig you had on
People who viewed the video said they were shocked at the abuse what it appeared to show.
Lynne Thomas said: “What an ignorant excuse of a human!”
Emma Naylor commented: “Absolutely disgusting!
“Just shows how ignorant some folk are!
“Jealousy will get him nowhere.”
While Sarah Gordon said: "Such a shame that people act this way!
“You did nothing wrong.
“You're happy, young and clearly he's jealous of that fabulous wig you had on."
This year marked Edinburgh's 21st Gay Pride event.
It included a march from Edinburgh city centre down the famous Royal Mile to Leith in the north of the city.
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