Homophobia in Honduras: growing attacks on LGBT activists
Homophobia in Honduras: growing attacks on LGBT activists
Gay activists in Honduras are facing torture, prison and assassination. In this report from the latest Index on Censorship magazine, Duncan Tucker reports on the largely uninvestigated killings that are slipping under the radar of the rest of the world
By Duncan Tucker / 20 April 2016
A year after returning from exile, Honduran gay rights activist Donny Reyes still fears a murderous attack at any minute. “I’ve been imprisoned on many occasions. I’ve suffered torture and sexual violence because of my activism, and I’ve survived many assassination attempts,” he said, in an interview with Index on Censorship.
Activists in Honduras must contend with a constant barrage of threats and, often fatal, attacks. Reyes, the coordinator of the Honduran lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender advocacy group Arcoíris (Rainbow), had spent 10 months abroad for his own safety, but felt an obligation to return to the frontline of the fight against discrimination.
“To be able to continue with my personal life and my work I have to be conscious that [death] could come at any moment,” he said. “The truth is it doesn’t worry me anymore. What worries me is that things won’t change.”
Dozens of LGBT Hondurans are murdered each year, with few of the killers brought to justice, according to figures from respected Honduran NGO Cattrachas. Journalists and activists who speak out are often attacked. One of these was Juan Carlos Cruz Andara who died after being stabbed 25 times by unknown assailants last June.
More:
https://www.indexoncensorship.org/2016/04/magazine-honduras-rainbow-warriors-the-dangers-of-being-an-lgbt-activist/
