A couple have spoken out about homophobic abuse they received after publicly sharing their wedding photos.
Steven and Conor Bonilla Graham Darby tied the knot in Liverpool in June in what they described as a "celebration of 15 years of love and commitment."
However, after posting images of their special day online, the couple were subjected to a wave of homophobic abuse that left them feeling "drowning in negativity."
Steven, a floral designer from Leigh, said: "Our wedding was a celebration of 15 years of love and commitment, and we wanted to add a floral, artistic flair to our photos to allow us to express ourselves in the way that we wanted to.
"But never in my mind did I think we would get this level of abuse.
"It seemed like people came out of their way to direct their negative comments at us, which I don't think would happen to heterosexual couples posting their wedding photos."
He said: "We should be allowed to share our love online, in the way that we want to express ourselves, and not to experience so much negativity which makes us question whether we can hold hands in public or if it's safe enough to open my shop if people know where I work."
Despite the negativity, the couple also received messages of support and love, reinforcing their pride in who they are.
Steven said: "I think this shows why there should always be Pride events, to highlight the things that same sex couples experience, and to make sure that the LGBTQ+ community has a safe space to celebrate whoever they are and to feel safe, seen, and express themselves in their truest form."
He has chosen to speak publicly about their experience to help others understand why events like Wigan Pride remain so important.
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