BY: DM
Published 4 weeks ago
Trick-or-treaters in Middleton, Greater Manchester, found religious leaflets with anti-LGBTQIA+ messages mixed in with their candy on Halloween night. At least two children received the handouts, which displayed the logo of Grace Fellowship Manchester, a church that meets at St. Stephen’s Church in Middleton. The incident gained attention the following week after photos of the leaflets circulated online and local outlets picked up the story.
Parents Immediately Voiced Concerns Over the Anti-LGBTQIA+ Leaflets
Parents shared photos of the leaflets online and contacted local media and councillors. According to Manchester Evening News, one leaflet, titled “ARE YOU A GOOD PERSON?,” featured a mock text exchange quoting 1 Corinthians 6:9–10, listing “homosexuals” among those who “will not inherit the Kingdom of God.” Another read, “God designed marriage to be between one man and one woman,” followed by the warning, “BE NOT DECEIVED!”
Parent Victoria Loop, whose child received a leaflet, called the material “not appropriate for young children” and said distributing it with Halloween sweets was offensive. “I’m a bit angry with the level of maturity of the subject matter of this particular leaflet,” Loop told the Manchester Evening News. “It’s just not appropriate for young children. I am not against people expressing their opinions for the most part but when it becomes discriminatory and offensive it is just wrong.”
Alkrington Councillor Dylan Williams agreed, calling the handouts “blatantly homophobic literature.” He said giving leaflets with “adult words and sexually explicit language” to children as young as six was unacceptable. Williams urged residents to report the incident as a potential hate crime if they felt targeted or distressed.
“Homophobia seems to be becoming more and more prevalent leading some members of the community to feel unsafe and this is and should not be acceptable in our society. We must say no to hate,” Williams told the Manchester Evening News.
What Happens Now?
Police have not announced any formal investigation or charges connected to the incident. Local authorities urged residents who experience or witness hate incidents to report them to Greater Manchester Police or through third-party reporting centers.
Between September 2023 and August 2024, Greater Manchester police recorded 9,613 hate crimes across Greater Manchester, according to GMCA. Additional local reporting indicates hate-crime volumes for the 12 months to April 2025 remained above pre-pandemic levels. National Home Office data show most recorded hate crimes fall under public order or violence categories.
Despite the troubling incident, Manchester remains one of the UK’s most visible and active LGBTQIA+ hubs. The city’s Canal Street — known as “The Gay Village” — serves as the heart of queer nightlife and culture. Census data shows the region has a sizable LGBTQIA+ population. Mancunian Matters reported that 6.67% of Manchester residents aged 16 and over identified as LGB+ in 2021 — the highest proportion among major UK cities. Across Greater Manchester, about 2% identify as gay or lesbian, and 1.4% as bisexual.
The incident has reignited conversations about how to protect children from hate-based messaging and ensure Halloween, and every public celebration, remains inclusive and safe for all.
Do you think distributing religious or political material to children on Halloween should be considered a hate incident? Comment below!
