I don’t think it’s hard to understand that people who do not behave in ways that are socially unacceptable almost everywhere else in the world might feel apprehensive and on guard in a place where there are large numbers of people behaving in in ways that is socially unacceptable almost everywhere else in the world.

Of course they are scared. Because even if they are not in danger in a given moment, in another moment they could be if you are among people who act outside the norm.