District Secretariat rejects homophobic aggression in front of Astor Plaza theater: attackers identified

In the early morning of April 9, there was an act of violence against the LGBTIQ+ community in Bogotá. Two men attacked with stones, sticks and daggers a couple of men waiting for a taxi in front of the Vive Astor Plaza theater, in the town of Chapinero. In view of the facts, the District Secretariat of Government issued a communiqué rejecting acts of intolerance, discrimination and violence.

“We are committed to respecting diversity, inclusion and guaranteeing rights for all people. We did not tolerate this and that is why we brought it to the attention of the competent authorities so that they could initiate the necessary investigations,” said Felipe Jiménez, District Secretary of Government.

Because the facts became known through social networks, the Secretariat was able to activate the LGBTI care route to ensure the health and well-being of those who were discriminated against and violated because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. In addition, the entity and the National Police convened an LGBTI round table as a matter of urgency to meet with the people affected and attend to the case personally.

The meeting took place this Monday and it was determined that the victims will enter the route for the guarantee of LGBTI rights in the district. This program will provide them with legal and psychological counseling and even give them the possibility of temporary accommodation while their rights are being restored. This site, called La Casa de Refugio, “is a safe space for people to be protected while the relevant investigations are carried out for each case,” said the Secretariat.

The entity also reported that on 12 April there will be a visit to the scene to dialogue with the vigilante who assisted in the situation. The facts were also reported to the Office of the Attorney General of the Nation; while the Ministry of Security and the Directorate of Sexual Diversity of the Secretariat of Planning will provide support to carry out the legal procedures before the respective judicial bodies.

The councilman of Bogotá, Luis Carlos Leal, announced through his social networks the names of those responsible for the act of violence and discrimination. “Thanks to all the people who provided information (...) The alleged aggressors in these hate crimes are Andres Lara (1) and Brayan Nemocon (2). Please be careful and report if you see them on the street,” the lobbyist wrote on Twitter and asked the Prosecutor's Office for truth and justice in the case.

The story of aggression

The incident was recorded and narrated by Mayra Corredor, who was in the same place waiting for another vehicle to transport with her friends, when “out of nowhere two unknown guys arrive to hit” the couple of men. The citizen commented on her social networks that after the aggressions, she and her colleagues start yelling at the subjects to stop; however, her words caused the young women to become their target.

“What I remember from then on is fuzzy, I guess because of the adrenaline rush of the moment (...) The fact is that we managed to knock one down and take away a knife he had; while the other, out of nowhere, gets a stick ready for everything,” Corredor pointed out.

In the midst of the beating, the security guard of a residential building was present to defend the victims, after which the attackers were badly beaten. However, this was not enough to calm them down, and on the contrary, a bigger problem broke out. “Both guys were busted and they still didn't stop. They were shooting to kill!” , explained the woman.

Despite the fact that the four women and the two men entered a building to protect themselves, the attackers broke the windows, so they began to climb the stairs of the place. Residents listened and went out to defend them with sticks, while the violent ones fled.

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