Sir, - On Good Friday my girlfriend and I went for a walk in St Stephen's Green. We sat on the bandstand and enjoyed the good weather, but our enjoyment was short-lived as a group of five boys and two girls began harassing us. The group were aged between 18 and 26.
Two of the boys began by shouting at us, calling us "lesbians", "f***ing dykes". The two girls and the other boys sat and laughed. The insults, all directed at our sexual orientation continued. A boy did a pelvic thrust. A cigarette lighter was thrown at us.
We did not want to give in to this abusive behaviour by leaving, but in retrospect we should have left as things just got worse. One boy said aggressively to my girlfriend: "Are you a girl or a boy? If you tell me your are a boy then it's OK." We didn't reply. He then shouted at us: "Because that's disgusting, that's f***ing disgusting."
The boys approached us a few times uprooting and throwing shrubs at us. Things got potentially dangerous as lighter fuel was sprayed in our direction a couple of times, I had just put out my cigarette. They then came closer and said accusingly: "Are you trying to turn us on, trying to get us excited?" They continued to insult us shouting at my Spanish girlfriend: "You are not welcome here."
At this point we were both scared and shaking a little, so we got up and left. We told the security guards and I think they asked the group to leave, because they followed us shouting: "We are coming after you." We were terrified and hurried down to Grafton street where there were crowds of people.
I feel I should not have to state this, but we were not being very intimate that day in the park. We were sitting arm in arm and we kissed once. I hasten to add that had we been very affectionate, as lovers often are in public, that too should have been OK. For those who spoiled our day - and they are representative of so many in our capital city and around the country - it is not OK for two women to be together in a physical relationship.
My partner and I are use to people staring at us. And because we are affectionate in public we have grown accustomed to the way adults whisper childishly to their friends so that they too can see "the lesbians". This we have to live with. But when what appears to be fear of the unknown turns into anger, manifesting itself as abuse, both verbal and physical, then we become afraid to walk the streets of Dublin.
I put the question: What is it about two women together in a relationship that breeds such contempt, anger, hatred and desire to hurt? - Yours, etc.,
S. Hughes, Dublin 7.