A GAY man from Worcester has spoken of his shock after hate-filled homophobic leaflets were posted through his friend's front door.

Phil Harper said a friend who lives in St John’s found the leaflet posted through their door earlier this week days before this weekend’s Worcestershire Pride celebration.

The leaflet, entitled “Pride Points to Ponder” includes 45 homophobic and offensive things about the LGBT community which the leaflet states as fact.

Mr Harper, aged 30, said: “My friend showed me the leaflet and we are not sure whether it was random posting or if it was targeted because it was in an envelope rather than just loose. It was horrifying to read the leaflet and it shows the need for more education and events like Pride.

“Hopefully events like Pride can show that it’s a load of rubbish.

“The leaflets are made under the mask of religion - but this is no religion I know.

“What we did was share it to try and get it reported as a hate crime.

“I know of a few other people who have had them and they have been reported as a hate crime. It is a real shame that such a positive event like pride has this hanging over it.”

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It is unknown who has printed and distributed the leaflets, which contain numerous false accusations against the LGBT community. The bottom of the leaflet says ‘Jonah’ but it is unclear if that is the name of the group or individual responsible for the leaflets.

The leaflets also say that Pride, is a “carnival” and a “freak show”. Worcestershire Pride declined to comment.

This year’s Worcestershire Pride, which will be held in the city on September 21, seeks to celebrate the LGBT community and to help foster an environment of diversity, tolerance, inclusivity and equality in Worcestershire. Pride is set to return to Worcester for its third year and will be celebrating the birth of the LGBT+ liberation movement, following the Stonewall riots of 1969 in New York. A parade is set to take place, where members will stroll through the streets in the city, starting at the fountains in Deansway, leading up to Broad Street, High Street, Pump Street and on to New Street and into the Cornmarket, where the main event will be held from 12.30pm. For more about Worcestershire Pride, go to worcestershirepride.org/