Young LGBTQ+ people across Merseyside still being attacked for who they are

As Pride month comes to a close, We're hearing young LGBTQ+ people across Merseyside are still being attacked for who they are.

Members of Liverpool's gay community are opening up to us about the disgusting abuse they've experienced, twelve months after the city took a stand against hate crime.

Chris Porter is an an LGBTQ+ well-being advisor at the Young Persons Advisory service, just this week he witnessed a gang of youths using homophobic language on the back of a bus.

He says that's evidence the message just isn't getting through :

"I heard some young peopl eusing really homophobic language and I was wondering, 'should I turn around and challenge these people?'

"There's a big group of them but say I challnege them then they're probably going to use it even more. Then I started thinking, well, why is nobody else challneging them? This is a busy bus.

"What are young people going through? I'm a fully grown man and I can take care of myself but if I'm a young person hearing that abusive language and struggling with my identity then what will that make me feel? Knowing somebody isn't doing something about it.

"That's what they say, whether it's in the playground or the street or online, they hear homophobic and transphobic abuse all of the time and they don't hear or see anythign being done about it".

If you or anybody you know is a victim of hate crime or are struggling with issues around sexuality, identity or gender then you can find help here - https://ypas.org.uk/

Hear all the latest news from across Merseyside on the hour, every hour, on 96.7FM, DAB, at radiocity.co.uk, and on the Radio City app.