Cameron Cole, who won the U.K.s Big Brother in 2018, has reported that his birthday celebrations were tainted by homophobic attacks that left him with a black eye and multiple facial wounds.I had a beautiful birthday surrounded by love, yet still came face-to-face with people who chose hate and violence! Cole posted to his Instagram over the weekend. It made me feel vulnerable in a way no one should ever have to feel, especially not for just existing and being me. Related Anti-LGBTQ+ hate is rising in Western nations both on & offline Alongside pictures of his injuries, Cole explained what had happened while he was out celebrating his birthday. They targeted me with homophobia and slurs, and later attacked me when I was alone. He also thanked his friend CARZ for taking care of him after the assault. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Cameron Cole (@ccole_99) Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today Cole was a competitor on the 2018 season of the U.K.s Big Brother and became the youngest contestant to win at just 19 years old. From his time in the public eye, hes no stranger to homophobic abuse. While his coming-out on the TV show was seen as a touching moment for many, he received abuse both online and on the street in the months that followed it.In 2019, he recounted the vile social media messages he received, the anonymous phone calls saying he should take his own life, and his experiences of homophobic slurs being shouted at him in the street. Both in his original Instagram post and in a follow-up post the following day, in which he thanked people for their support, Cole used his experience to highlight the challenges that LGBTQ+ people and other minorities face in Britain.This isnt just about me, or just about the LGBTQ+ community, he said in his first post. Its about every minority, every marginalised voice, everyone who has been told they dont belong, the politics, the government, the people, they want to divide us but they will not win.He reiterated the idea in his second post: I wish I could say this kind of experience is rare. It should be. It is not. And that breaks my heart. To anyone who has gone through something like this, recently or in the past, I am sorry. You did not deserve it. None of us did. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Cameron Cole (@ccole_99) Reports of hate crimes in the United Kingdom have more than tripled since 2012/13. Statistics show a peak for the reporting year 2021/22 with a drop off in the two years following, but are still higher than they were before the peak.While 70% of reported hate crimes are marked as being racially motivated in the U.K., Stop Hate UK notes that anti-LGBTQ+ hate crimes have followed a similar trajectory with gender identity and sexual orientation being the third most common motive for a hate crime. They also highlight that many hate crimes against the LGBTQ+ community are not reported through official channels. Related The Trump Virus is spreading around the globe. Especially in the UK. Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.