In 2026, Steven and Conor Bonilla-Graham-Darby from Leigh, Wigan, tied the knot at Sefton Palm House after 15 years together, with their 10-year-old son George serving as best man. However, after sharing photographs of their wedding online, the couple was subjected to hundreds of abusive and homophobic messages.
Steven and Conor, aged 33 and 32, described how what should have been the happiest period of their lives turned into months of emotional trauma. The online attacks escalated beyond criticism of photo styles into severe hate speech, personal insults, and defamatory allegations. Steven shared that the harassment significantly affected his physical and mental health, causing insomnia and weight loss, while a lack of trust in the reporting process prevented him from contacting authorities.
Reflecting on the experience, Steven emphasized the ongoing necessity of Pride events. He noted that as long as individuals feel compelled to turn off comment sections on the most important days of their lives to avoid abuse, public advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights and safety remains essential.
In response to the incident, Meta, the parent company of Instagram, stated that hateful conduct is strictly prohibited across its platforms. Meta defined hateful conduct as direct attacks based on protected characteristics including sexual orientation, re-affirming its commitment to removing dehumanizing speech and defamatory claims from its services.
European Editorial Office: Lucas BakkerJohn
