(WARNING: Graphic Language)
The Kamloops Pride Parade is only a month away and despite the large turnout from last year's event, a Kamloops local said that he has been the target of numerous disparaging insults regarding his sexual orientation in the past couple of weeks.
Darcy Daniel, a Kamloops local and organizer for developing Drag Queen show, Willow Reeed, said his frustration with the derogatory remarks boiled over on Saturday afternoon when numerous people verbally attacked him and his boyfriend, bringing his boyfriend to tears.
"I grew up here so it didn't really bother me all that much, I was also a bouncer, I can handle myself - that stuff doesn't phase me - but my boyfriend is a little more sensitive," explained Daniel.
"Now [my boyfriend] is finding it a little hard in public, like even today he was a little uncomfortable holding my hand and stuff like that . . . essentially people were just making a lot of comments and calling us out for being gay saying it was disgusting and stuff like that . . . we were just walking around like any other couple would be."
The experience led Daniel to film a live video immediately following the incident which has gained traction on Facebook leading to 90 shares and over 10,000 views since it was posted.
In an interview with NowMedia - which has been edited to reduce explicit language - Daniel explained that in all of the cities he has lived in, his hometown of Kamloops has been the most difficult to freely express his sexuality.
"It happens to me more here than it does anywhere else I've lived, which is pretty sad being I grew up here . . . "I'll just be walking down the street and people will roll down their car window and yell . . . faggot.'"
After posting the video on Facebook, commenters have suggested Daniel 'toughen up,' or engage in a physical altercation with those insulting him, but he doesn't want to have to be involved in situations like that at all.
"Teach your kids it's okay to be who you are," added Daniel.
