A tiny British village is in the middle of a Gay couple outraged over ‘homophobic’ road named Bangays Way homophobic row after a gay couple living there objected to a new street – named ”BANGAYS WAY’.
Married Philip and Ian Tucker say the road name – in honour of a local historian called Frank Bangay – is offensive.
The pair have now roped in their MP in a bid to change the street name in the picturesque Kent village of Borough Green.
The parish council were also set to hold an emergency meeting last night (Thurs) to address the situation.
But the Bangay family are furious and have labelled the couple’s calls as “petty playground bullying” and “name calling”.
Philip said: “We laughed at first, but upon reflection we realised this street name was actually pretty offensive.
“Somehow seeing it on the sign made it look even worse. We are pretty sure the sign will be subject to frequent vandalism and possible theft.”
The Bangay family have reacted furiously to the couple’s offence at the sign which was installed last month in a new development.
Ian Bangay wrote in a blog post: “For some reason a villager has expressed the view that the name Bangays Way may be taken as homophobic.
“While he may perceive things in this way, this seems perhaps overly sensitive and I would have faith in the people of Borough Green to see it as it is meant, simply a tribute to a man who dedicated his life to the area, without any other overtones.
“I do not wish for the name of Bangay to be slurred, nor for what strikes me as petty playground bullying, literally name calling, to go unchecked.
“Sadly I see Mr Tucker’s position as little better than the homophobia which he claims to decry. It is insensitive.
“If he had understood – which he claims to – that this is a family name, he might have appreciated the upset and offence which he has triggered.”
The parish council were last night expected to approve changing the street name to “Frank Bangay Way” so the local historian, war veteran and former councillor, who passed away in 1999, can still be commemorated.
The Chairman of Borough Green Parish Council, Councillor Mike Taylor, was part of the committee who approved the street name and also called for the emergency meeting.
He said: “I feel the guy is being over-sensitive. If he lived longer in the village he would know Frank Bangay was one of the pillars of the community.
“When you say the word ‘Bangay’ we think of Frank Bangay and his family, we don’t think of ‘Ban Gay‘.”
