Campaigning gay dads Adam Frisby and Jamie Corbett have bravely spoken out about the "vile abuse" they received following the horrific murder trial of Preston Davey. The couple, who are raising a baby girl through surrogacy, were inundated with more than a thousand abusive and homophobic messages in just 24 hours.
Background of the Case
Jamie Varley was handed a whole life order for sexually abusing and murdering his adopted 13-month-old son Preston Davey. His partner, John McGowan-Fazakerley, was sentenced to 25 years for sexual assault, child cruelty, and allowing Preston's death. The trial shocked the nation due to the extreme abuse the toddler suffered while in their care for only four months.
The Couple's Campaign
Adam and Jamie, from Bolton, Manchester, launched a petition to change surrogacy laws so intended parents are recognized as legal parents from birth. Under current UK law, the surrogate mother is the legal parent at birth, even though the couple is biologically related to the child. Their petition garnered 100,000 signatures in 48 hours and will be debated in parliament.
Adam's Emotional Response
In an emotional video on Instagram, Adam said: "What happened with baby Preston is so tragic and so disturbing that it's affected everyone including me and Jamie. I hope those two rot in hell. But the level of abuse we have received for being gay dads is pretty disturbing. I've not even been able to open an app without seeing comparisons and how our daughter needs to be protected."
He added: "We've tried so hard over the last few months to campaign for change and make a difference for families like ours and our daughter. It just feels like such a kick in the teeth that I know now for sure that this law will not change because so many people have just turned the tide on gay parents because of this."
Adam continued: "You would never have a heterosexual person do something like this and compare every heterosexual family to that same person – it just would not happen. If you are genuinely one of those people that looks at same-sex parents and think that they are doing something wrong or they are in the same comparison as those two people then that is outright homophobia. You are homophobic. A tragedy like that should of course make us question how children are protected better but it should not be an excuse to target families like ours online."
Impact on the Community
The couple's experience highlights the ongoing prejudice faced by LGBTQ+ families. Despite their efforts to advocate for legal change, they now fear that public sentiment has turned against them due to the actions of unrelated individuals. Their story underscores the need for broader societal acceptance and legal reform.
