Ryan Turner appeared on Good Morning Britain on Friday where he spoke to hosts Alex Beresford and Charlotte Hawkins about the vicious hate crime he was subjected to on his birthday in July 2019.
Ryan, now 24, was attacked in Manchester by a gang of thugs and left scarred for life as one assailant, Brandon Forrester, stamped on his face and shouted homophobic slurs.
Forrester pleaded guilty to ABH but was given just 88 hours' community service and a suspended sentence due to his "previous good character".
Ryan, who is openly gay, has bravely shared his story in a bid to raise awareness of homophobic abuse and speak out against it as cases are on the rise.