A participant in Londonderry's first ever Gay Pride Parade has spoken out about the homophobic attack he was subjected to just hours after the event.
Michael Doherty played a prominent role in Saturday's Foyle Pride, which was attended by thousands of people.
"It was a brilliant day and a great experience to be part of it," he told UTV.
"I'm really proud to be gay and Derry people showed their support. It was an experience of a lifetime."
But he was attacked by a group of men as he later left a city centre bar.
As he left a city centre bar after the Parade he was attacked
"I was approached by four young guys who shouted verbal abuse at me, using the gay word and swearing. They pushed me out the door and I landed on the ground," he said.
"If I hadn't got away, it would have been worse. At that moment, maybe I was in the wrong place at the wrong time - but it was a homophobic attack."
Michael struggled with his sexuality for years and was 27 before he came out, but he told UTV such attacks would not drive him or others back into the closet.
"This is just my opinion, but I think that people who hurl abuse are uncomfortable about themselves - because people who are comfortable about themselves don't shout abuse," he said.
"People who are comfortable about themselves were at the parade on Saturday applauding and shouting encouragement and it was very, very overwhelming."
© UTV News