Father and son say they were beaten by homophobic group

20/07/2011 - 09h42

A self-employed 42 year old had his ear severed in the early morning hours last Friday in São João da Boa Vista, a city in the São Paulo countryside 216 km from the capital. The victim and his 18 year old son say they were embracing after a country music show at the local agriculture fair when they were mistaken for a homosexual couple by a group of homophobes.

Father and son were waiting for their girlfriends, who had gone to the restroom. "They asked if we were gay and we said no," said the man.

According to him, the group insisted on bothering them. "He asked us to kiss, because it is legal".

In addition, he said there was the intention to fight, interrupted by people wandering around.

Rivaldo Gomes/Folhapress

The victim and his 18 year old son say they were embracing and were mistaken for a homosexual couple in São Paulo

Shortly thereafter, he claims to have been punched in the jaw and was unconscious for 15 seconds. When he regained consciousness, he was missing a piece of his right ear.

The police are awaiting the reports of the experts to find out how the ear was torn, whether by a bite or a sharp object. The son, a physical education student, suffered minor injuries.

The young man returned to São Bernardo do Campo, in Greater ABC, where he lives with his mother. The kid had gone with his girlfriend to the city to visit his father and watch the show.

One of the suspects in the attack, a 25 year old blacksmith, was arrested yesterday.

According to Representative Fernando Zucarelli Pinto, the blacksmith confirmed having participated in the fight. But he denied having insulted the father and son. He also said that he didn't ask them to kiss.

The suspect will be arraigned for personal injury while free. The police are still looking for additional suspects.

INTOLERANCE

Attacks like those suffered by the father and son in São João da Boa Vista are a reaction of intolerance to the increasing exposure of issues relating to homosexuals in the media and in society, according to Ricardo Monezi, a specialist in behavioral medicine.

"Unfortunately, some people with extremely rigid standards feel violated when their moral precepts are challenged," he says. "This violence is an warning for society to reflect on its actions."

According to Marcos Freire, head of APOGLBT (the association which organizes the Gay Parade), homophobia causes, on average, one murder every two days in the country.

"There appear to be more homosexuals in the countryside, where the prejudice is greater.

The organization advocates the adoption by the Congress of a bill that would criminalize those who practice homophobia in the country.

The bill, however, suffers strong opposition lead by representatives and senators connected to churches.

Translated by DAVE WOLLIN