A GAY man who posed for a selfie with First Minister Nicola Sturgeon at the Pride festival in Edinburgh was homophobically abused on a bus hours later.

Scottish Widows employee Rhys Smith posted a video of the moment he suffered homophobic abuse on a packed bus from a retired man in his 60s.

Mr Smith pressed the record button on his mobile phone after a fellow passenger shouted foul-mouthed abuse at him.

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The 23-year-old, from Edinburgh, kept filming as a heated argument broke out, culminating in the passenger taunting him with more abuse about his sexuality.

Mr Smith, who describes himself as “not the gayest of the gay”, said he was sharing the footage to shame the “stupid fool”.

The incident took place after thousands had lined the capital’s streets to celebrate this year’s Pride event – a lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) festival.

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The clip, thought to have been filmed in Leith Walk in the early hours of Sunday, has had moe than 4,700 views on Facebook and been shared 51 times.

Although it is not clear what precisely triggered the argument, Mr Smith, a digital worker with the Edinburgh pensions firm, said he could see the man abusing him out of the corner of his eye.

He can be heard asking him: “Are we going down that road? Is that what you don’t like?” The man replies: “Well you look like it.”

Mr Smith’s female friend then can be heard getting involved in the dispute.
The man, who reveals during the clip that he is retired, repeatedly calls Mr Smith an “a***” before he makes reference to a sexual act that draws audible gasps from other passengers.

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Mr Smith wrote on Facebook: “I hope this get shared so this stupid fool is shamed!”

He added: “If I was still in my drag I’d have kind of understood it or at least understood why me.

“Apologies for the language and the way we reacted! Probably not the most composed, mature approach.

“However on the spot, the rage and anger took us over! We did nothing to provoke this at all. We were exhausted and just having chats and giggles on the bus.”

 Mr Smith said he had never suffered abuse to this extent before.

He said: “I’ve never had abuse to this extent, before. Odd looks and giggles and smart comments usually, but nothing to this effect.

“We had just had literally the best day. It had been so nice to see everyone and have such great fun with friends and family.

“Me and my friend had gone as Edina and Patsy from Absolutely Fabulous but by the time we were on the bus we had been home and changed.

“I don’t want to say he ruined the day but it definitely put a massive dampener on things.”

Other people commented on social media networks. Lynne Thomas said: “What an ignorant excuse of a human!”

Emma Naylor said: “Absolutely disgusting! Just shows how ignorant some folk are! 

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Jealousy will get him nowhere.”

Sarah Gordon said: “Such a shame that people act this way! You did nothing wrong. You’re happy, young and clearly he’s jealous of that fabulous wig you had on.”

The festival was first held in Edinburgh 21 years ago and celebrates diversity and personal identity.

The rainbow flag, a symbol of the LGBTI community, was raised at Holyrood to mark the event.

In addition to the First Minister, Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale and Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie were in attendance for the march, which headed down the Royal Mile and on towards Leith.