Gay couple's rainbow doormat vandalised before neighbours show amazing support

18 June 2023 , 10:10

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A whole street has responded to a homophobic attack on a gay couple’s rainbow doormat by buying their own (Image: Susie Day)

An entire street has a colourful new look after neighbours responded to a homophobic attack on a gay couple’s rainbow doormat by each buying one of their own.

Susie Day and her wife moved to their new home earlier this year, and put out the £6 Dunelm Pride-themed doormat to mark the LGBT+ month of celebration.

But the pair were shocked when the mat was stolen - and when they replaced it with a glued-down version, vandals spray-painted it black, BristolLive reports.

But the strong community in Bedminster, Bristol, are standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the couple by ordering the doormats for the whole street.

Susie says they have been overwhelmed by support but are saddened and concerned by what has happened.

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The couple say they have been overwhelmed with support (Susie Day)

Pride month is currently being celebrated around the world (Getty Images)

She said: “It felt really horrible and invasive.

"It felt like we were a bit unsafe in our own home. We’d only recently moved here, and it felt personal. We weren’t sure if the theft was just random, but clearly someone didn’t like it and actually came back with a spray can.”

Susie asked her neighbours if they had experienced any other kind of vandalism and no one else had, which made her feel worse - but when the neighbours realised what had happened, they rallied around.

“Everyone was really shocked and we’ve had such great messages and people coming round to say how disgusted they were someone would do this," she added.

"Everyone has said that’s not what this street is like, and one of our neighbours said they were going to get a rainbow doormat themselves, and now a lot of the other neighbours are doing the same, and have ordered them.

"So from just our rainbow doormat, there’s now going to be loads.

"That will be a really nice thing for us, to go out and walk down the street and see that there’s this support."

Pride Month is celebrated across the world in various ways.

Starting in the 1970s, Pride has a rich history of over 50 years behind it and is meant to not only be a celebration of the LGBTQ+ community but a movement for their equal rights.

The origin of Pride is tied to the Stonewall Riots in New York, however as years have passed Pride Month has become a global LGBTQ+ liberation movement.

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From parades and parties to protests and activism, Pride has something for everyone who wants to get involved, with several events cropping up in cities around the world.

Tristan Cork