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Even though over six per cent of the UK's population is gay, hate crime against gay people is still an issue.

The first International Day against Homophobia on May 17th has been designed to recognise the lesbian and gay communities’ struggle to achieve equal rights and legal recognition.

Lesley Duggan is a Lesbian and Bisexual Women's Network Officer in Middlesbrough and thinks that anti-gay crime is not treated as seriously as incidents like racist attacks.

"I think the police are more aware and are taking notice, but it would be nice to see specialist officers who can dedicate their time it getting homophobic crime tackled."

L.J. is a bisexual man who says he was verbally and physically assaulted whilst living in Middlesbrough.

"I lived in a shared flat with two girls and a black guy, and after I went on TV to talk about HIV, people started making personal comments to me, and we got eggs thrown at our windows, bangers through the letterbox, and anti-gay graffiti on the door.

"The police cameÌýand dealt with the abuse against us - they treat one of my femaleÌý flatmates, who was pregnant and had had a football kicked at her as a priority.

"They dealt with abuse directed at Alan, my black flatmate, as a racial crime,Ìýand the police said they had no evidence that any of it was was directly at me, even when I pointed out the homophobic graffiti on our front door.

"I had to endure people calling me names, with guys coming back on bikes and whacking me on the face with a rubber cosh. I was in hospital due to this and it took the police two weeks to deal with the attack.

"Sexuality is not a conscious choice, we just are.

"We’re not mentally ill or physically inferior, and I treat everyone I meet with respect and we expect the same in return."

To listen to the full interview with LJ, go to the 'see also' section in the top right hand of the page.