Manchester United Women ace Geyse Ferreira has responded powerfully to the repugnant homophobic abuse she’s received on social media in recent weeks.
Back in June, the 56-capped Brazilian star shared snaps of herself alongside partner Bruna Gois on X (Twitter), seemingly going public for the first time.
Further pictures of the loved-up couple were published again in July before both took to Instagram on August 10 with a joint post, under which Geyse replied: “I love you, us against the world.”
View this post on Instagram
Comments have, however, since been limited on the post and judging by the statement that was posted the subsequent day by Geyse, there are no guesses as to why.
Geyse’s response
She returned to Twitter to express her despair at the vile reactions both she and her girlfriend had received since opening up their relationship to supporters, writing: “Yesterday, after publicly sharing my relationship, I was the target of homophobic attacks.
“I would like to clarify that love, in all its forms, is something that should be respected and celebrated, regardless of gender, orientation or any other characteristic. These attacks, in addition to being deeply hurtful, reflect a mentality that is not in line with the values of respect and empathy that we should promote as a society.
“I reiterate that I will not remain silent in the face of prejudice. I will continue to live and share my life with authenticity and courage, in the hope that one day everyone will be free to love whoever they want, without fear of judgment or reprisal.
“I would like to thank everyone who sent me messages of support and affection. Together, we can fight hate with love and build a more inclusive and respectful world.”
It’s abhorrent that such homophobia is still so rife nowadays that footballers are having to come out to plead for even an ounce of respect. Though, it’s unfortunately not all that surprising for those who’ve experienced it first-hand.
We stand in solidarity with Geyse and hope that she – and Julia – can continue to express their love however they see fit from now on.
