The note left by a neighbour claims that gay people are 'the first' to spread coronavirus (TETU.com)

A gay couple were given a “warning” to leave their apartment building because “homosexuals are the first to be contaminated” by the coronavirus.

33-year-old caregiver David lives with his partner, an Uber Eats driver, in a quiet neighbourhood of the French city of Marseille. Like the rest of the country, the city has been in lockdown since March 16.

According to TÊTU, David’s partner was about to leave for work on Thursday when he discovered a horrifying handwritten note on his windshield.

“Could you please leave the residence because we know that you homosexuals are the first to be contaminated by COVID-19,” the note read.

“This is the first warning. Thank you.”

There is absolutely no evidence to suggest that gay people are more likely to contract or spread the coronavirus, although it’s thought that LGBT+ people may be more vulnerable to the disease if they do catch it, for a number of reasons.

It seems this message may have been misunderstood by some, as David has noticed an increase in threats against his colleagues at the hospital in recent days.

Recognising the handwriting on the note, he and his partner believe it was sent by a particular neighbour who previously filed a complaint against Muslim neighbours who had just married and played “oriental music”.

“I think he is a person without intelligence and education. I think this person is certainly religious and that he truly believes in what he says,” he told TÊTU.

“To mark bulls**t like that, you have to believe it,” he added, noting that he has no proof of the person’s identity and therefore cannot challenge him directly.

The two men were so shocked by the note that they immediately took it to their local police station to report it, only to be told that the letter is “not a threat but a warning”.

They were encouraged to file a simple police complaint that would have no repercussions.

In desperation David turned to Facebook. He received a “wave of support” after sharing his story, and it reached Bordeaux Police’s LGBT team, who have since taken up the case.

“[They] told us that they were going to make sure that it was treated, that they could perhaps recover the DNA, analyse the writing,” David said.

But with the French police also facing restrictions on their movement due to coronavirus, it could be a long time before anything comes of their complaint. In the meantime, they are left feeling vulnerable every time they move in and out of their house.

“I look a little more behind me,” David said. “My spouse has a strong character, he is rather hot-headed. I’m pretty calm. I wonder what it will be next time. Are they going to smash my car? Are they going to wait for me downstairs?”