‘Bake Off’s Rav Bansal shares homophobic letter he was sent by fan after coming out as gay

Former Great British Bake Off contenstant Rav Bansal has shared an “upsetting” homophobic letter sent to him be a former fan after he came out publicly as gay.

The 31-year-old Londoner, who appeared on the seventh series of the hit baking competition in 2016, discussed his sexuality on BBC Sunday Morning Live last month after recently coming out to his supportive parents.

Bansal, who is Sikh, said at the time that he wanted to use his voice to “make a difference” for other South Asian LGBTQ people.

It was very difficult for my parents speak publicly about this, but they knew how important it was to show solidarity. I know I’m very lucky, as there are many South Asians who don’t have the same support. Here’s hoping that our voices will make a difference. ❤️✊🏽 https://t.co/BmlAvhTHAx

— Rav Bansal (@RavSBansal) August 22, 2019

While Rav received an outpouring of support following his announcement, the TV personality took to Twitter on Thursday (26 September) to share a homophobic letter sent to him by a Sikh (and now former) fan, who accused him of living “a perverse lifestyle.”

Posting a picture of the letter, Rav wrote: “When I decided to come out publicly I expected to be faced with some negativity. For the most part I have been able to ignore it, but this letter cut me a bit deeper.

“Annoyingly, it upset me more than I should have allowed it to. Religion should never be used to justify hate.”

When I decided to come out publicly I expected to be faced with some negativity. For the most part I have been able to ignore it, but this letter cut me a bit deeper. Annoyingly, it upset me more than I should have allowed it to. Religion should never be used to justify hate 🏳️‍🌈 pic.twitter.com/oWnRCWG8TS

— Rav Bansal (@RavSBansal) September 26, 2019

The letter reads: “I have been a fan of yours ever since I saw you on The Great British Bake Off a few years ago. I have followed your career since and have supported many of the projects you have been working on. I even attended your afternoon tea with my family earlier this year.

“I recently saw a clip of you on the BBC where you opened [up] about being gay and Sikh, and I couldn’t have been more disappointed hearing this news. I feel as though you are promoting a false image of being a person who can follow the religion, yet you promote a perverse lifestyle as if it is something you should be proud of.

“This is something you should have kept to yourself. Sikhism explicitly says that lustful behaviour is prohibited and the fact that you went public with this concerns me immensely.”

The letter continued: “I have two young children and I don’t want them being exposed to this kind of inappropriate material. You are a public person and have a responsibility to behave in a way that won’t cause offense to people who may have looked up to you.

 

“I say that because I am deeply offended, as a Sikh myself, that you were so inconsiderate of the implication this would have on the wider community, which is why I was obliged to reach out.

“Very rarely do us Sikhs see ourselves represented on the TV and many of us were so excited to see you excel in such a way. I feel as though you have thrown that all away by being gay.

“With regret, I have to say that I will no longer be supporting you if you continue to go down this path. I hope that one day you will get some clarity on this issue.”

Refusing to be cowed by homophobia, Rav later took to Twitter to write that the comments would only make him “louder and stronger”.

To whoever wrote this, I hope one-day YOU will find clarity, for your children’s sake. Your word will only make me louder and stronger. ✊🏽

— Rav Bansal (@RavSBansal) September 26, 2019

“To whoever wrote this, I hope one-day YOU will find clarity, for your children’s sake,” he wrote.

“Your word will only make me louder and stronger.”