Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

World

Orlando attack highlights challenges for Hispanic gays

-

Angel Garmendiz lost 11 friends when a gunman opened fire on a gay nightclub in Orlando, slaughtering revelers who had just been dancing and cheering on a drag queen competition.

The families of three of those friends learned in the past day that not only was their loved one dead, but also that he was gay.

"It was shocking to them, they don't accept it," Garmendiz told AFP in Spanish.

"That is the problem: why didn't they know? Maybe because of the discrimination in our homes, in our countries. That is why, maybe, their children, their relatives, didn't dare to tell them openly that they were gay," he said.

The massacre at the Pulse nightclub early Sunday, which claimed 49 lives and left 53 wounded, was the deadliest terror attack on US soil since September 11, 2001.

Authorities said gunman Omar Mateen, 29, had been radicalized by Islamist propaganda.

The tragedy has sparked a wave of support for the city's gay community, but is also a reminder of how many obstacles remain -- particularly for young Hispanics.

Garmendiz, who is originally from Puerto Rico, said he think it's harder to be a gay man in Latin culture.

"The straight, heterosexual man is very macho and the homosexual man feels intimidated about going out and expressing himself," he said.

A small memorial is seen on the grounds of the Orlando Regional Medical Center on June 13  2016 in O...
A small memorial is seen on the grounds of the Orlando Regional Medical Center on June 13, 2016 in Orlando, Florida
Brendan Smialowski, AFP

At the Center, a support hub for the LGBT community in Orlando, deliveries of food and drinks were arriving constantly on Monday, while 200 mental health experts were on hand to provide advice and solace.

"It's amazing the number of calls we've received from people asking how they can help us," said Rob Domenico, a member of the board of directors at the Center.

"We can show how the two communities (LGBT and heterosexual) can work together," he said.

Donations have been pouring in and a Gofundme page started by civil rights group Equality Florida, to support victims of the shooting, had collected more than $2.6 million in just one day.

- Religion -

The massacre at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando has sparked a wave of support for the city's gay...
The massacre at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando has sparked a wave of support for the city's gay community, but is also a reminder of how many obstacles remain -- particularly for young Hispanics
Mandel Ngan, AFP

Mark Krueger, a gay rights activist visiting from the neighboring US state of Georgia, said the biggest problems facing gays in America didn't come from terrorists.

"It's not ISIS. It's mostly local Christians who say gay people are bad people and force them to hide," he said, noting that he has been repeatedly threatened in Miami Beach.

Domenico agreed. "If you go on social media, it's sickening to see how evangelicals are posting hate messages, saying that we deserve what happens to us."

Krueger said religion is preventing many from changing their views on homosexuality.

"(President Barack) Obama, Hillary Clinton -- they're saying the right things but it needs to trickle down to the population and it hasn't in part because of religion."

The hostility from families and society makes it crucial that there are places where gay men "know that they're among others that are like them," said Tim Evanicki, entertainment manager at The Parliament House, a gay club and resort.

"That's why places like Pulse and The Parliament House are still very necessary. They can go to some place where they feel comfortable, accepted and safe."

Angel Garmendiz lost 11 friends when a gunman opened fire on a gay nightclub in Orlando, slaughtering revelers who had just been dancing and cheering on a drag queen competition.

The families of three of those friends learned in the past day that not only was their loved one dead, but also that he was gay.

“It was shocking to them, they don’t accept it,” Garmendiz told AFP in Spanish.

“That is the problem: why didn’t they know? Maybe because of the discrimination in our homes, in our countries. That is why, maybe, their children, their relatives, didn’t dare to tell them openly that they were gay,” he said.

The massacre at the Pulse nightclub early Sunday, which claimed 49 lives and left 53 wounded, was the deadliest terror attack on US soil since September 11, 2001.

Authorities said gunman Omar Mateen, 29, had been radicalized by Islamist propaganda.

The tragedy has sparked a wave of support for the city’s gay community, but is also a reminder of how many obstacles remain — particularly for young Hispanics.

Garmendiz, who is originally from Puerto Rico, said he think it’s harder to be a gay man in Latin culture.

“The straight, heterosexual man is very macho and the homosexual man feels intimidated about going out and expressing himself,” he said.

A small memorial is seen on the grounds of the Orlando Regional Medical Center on June 13  2016 in O...

A small memorial is seen on the grounds of the Orlando Regional Medical Center on June 13, 2016 in Orlando, Florida
Brendan Smialowski, AFP

At the Center, a support hub for the LGBT community in Orlando, deliveries of food and drinks were arriving constantly on Monday, while 200 mental health experts were on hand to provide advice and solace.

“It’s amazing the number of calls we’ve received from people asking how they can help us,” said Rob Domenico, a member of the board of directors at the Center.

“We can show how the two communities (LGBT and heterosexual) can work together,” he said.

Donations have been pouring in and a Gofundme page started by civil rights group Equality Florida, to support victims of the shooting, had collected more than $2.6 million in just one day.

– Religion –

The massacre at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando has sparked a wave of support for the city's gay...

The massacre at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando has sparked a wave of support for the city's gay community, but is also a reminder of how many obstacles remain — particularly for young Hispanics
Mandel Ngan, AFP

Mark Krueger, a gay rights activist visiting from the neighboring US state of Georgia, said the biggest problems facing gays in America didn’t come from terrorists.

“It’s not ISIS. It’s mostly local Christians who say gay people are bad people and force them to hide,” he said, noting that he has been repeatedly threatened in Miami Beach.

Domenico agreed. “If you go on social media, it’s sickening to see how evangelicals are posting hate messages, saying that we deserve what happens to us.”

Krueger said religion is preventing many from changing their views on homosexuality.

“(President Barack) Obama, Hillary Clinton — they’re saying the right things but it needs to trickle down to the population and it hasn’t in part because of religion.”

The hostility from families and society makes it crucial that there are places where gay men “know that they’re among others that are like them,” said Tim Evanicki, entertainment manager at The Parliament House, a gay club and resort.

“That’s why places like Pulse and The Parliament House are still very necessary. They can go to some place where they feel comfortable, accepted and safe.”

AFP
Written By

With 2,400 staff representing 100 different nationalities, AFP covers the world as a leading global news agency. AFP provides fast, comprehensive and verified coverage of the issues affecting our daily lives.

You may also like:

World

Calling for urgent action is the international medical humanitarian organization Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)

Business

The cathedral is on track to reopen on December 8 - Copyright AFP Ludovic MARINParis’s Notre-Dame Cathedral, ravaged by fire in 2019, is on...

Business

Saudi Aramco President & CEO Amin Nasser speaks during the CERAWeek oil summit in Houston, Texas - Copyright AFP Mark FelixPointing to the still...

Business

A surge in cheap exports from China in industries like electric vehicles could bring "global spillovers," says US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen.