Watch what happens when Iain Lee holds a man’s hand in the street…
By Will Stroude
Comedian and presenter Iain Lee had his eyes opened after conducting an experiment to see how the British public would react to him holding another man’s hand in public.
After speaking to a 23-year-old gay man who’d suffered homophobic abuse on a train on his BBC Three Counties Radio Show earlier this week, Lee decided to see for himself how people reacted to a minor display of same-sex affection between himself and co-host Justin Dealey.
After attracting several looks on the streets of Luton in just just a couple of minutes, Lee says: “I saw a dad usher a child away from us… He clocked the hand, he clocked us [and said] ‘Come on love, come on love.'”
When a young man openly says “urgh” at the pair, Iain and Justin decide to ask him about his reaction.
Saying he responded that way because the idea of two men together was “disgusting,” the man’s female companion says she “I’m not against [homosexuality] but I don’t like it in my face.”
Commenting on the experience, Lee says he’s “surprised and disappointed” with the way people reacted, while Justin adds: “What concerns me I would say the most is the fact he’s a young lad… That’s a young lad; that’s the future, and quite clearly he found it disgusting.”
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