The two lesbians attacked on a London bus a week ago are still visibly bruised — and very angry.

“What is still making me angry is that this is not a novel situation,” the injured woman who is only using her first name, Chris, tells The BBC during the women’s first public interview.

“The violence is not only because we are women which are dating each other,” her partner, Melania Geymonat, says in the interview.

“It’s also because we are women.”

The two were speaking their minds for the first time since they were beaten on a London bus by a group of teen thugs who’d been taunting them to kiss each other.

The two said the attack does not make them fear showing affection in public.

“I’m not scared about being visibly queer,” Chris said. “If anything you should do it more,” she said.

“There are a lot of people’s rights at risk,” she said. “And people’s basic safety is at risk, and so I want people to feel emboldened to stand up to the same people who feel emboldened.”

She added, “I want people to take away that they should stand up for themselves – and stand up for each other.”

Five suspects, aged 15 to 18, have been arrested in the violence.