Happy International Day Against Homophobia

Yesterday, most part of the world was celebrating the international day against homophobia and transphobia, but as usual event in Venezuela where everything is delayed 30 minutes by presidential decree or because an entire country revolves counterclockwise, back to the stone age.

Despite the heavy rain falling the whole day in my beloved Valencia, I had nothing else to do but to visit a dear friend. The early evening was very pleasant along with the presence of two friends, one of them happened to have lots of passion for photography.

Three hours later, it was time to leave, taking the two kids for a ride me throughout the "green paths" Agua Blanca and Prebo. The conversation was very pleasant, characterized by a heated discussion and hand gestures in the order of the day.

Taking a U-turn at the northestearn corner of Prebo Shopping Center, I parked close enough to drop them and staying inside of the car for closing statements. At 6 pm two agents from the political police out of nowhere approached us, face covered and at gun point, shouting at us to get out of the car.

Many thoughts went through my mind, especially the denial of what it was happening, as something surreal. While knowing the danger of being stopped by corrupt police force, who could even fake incriminating evidence findings, without remorse nor anyone who could stop them.

Circumstances made me nervous and cry for honesty and decency. One of the police forced me to get my hands on the car while the other would do the same. The agents with an aggressive tone of voice asked us about our occupations, as i replied I was a freelance journalist.

Fortunately, one of the “kids” worked in a local TV station and pulled out his work ID, suddenly the aggression level lowered, but still the other officer frisk his bag, as if there were weapons or drugs. At that point the offices were not aiming their weapons at us, under the pretence of being part of the press.

Another theory would be that we were gays and decided to harrass us to make us feel uncomfortable, they asked where we lived and our business in the area. Then their arguments were aiming to justify their action by an obvious sexual orientation bias.

Part of their excuses for their excessive force was the fight against crime, then they took off their masks and replicated we should be thankful for having a security force taking care of our safety. I asked What would have happened if by any chance their weapons fired unintentionally? 

Decent citizens without any indication of suspicious behavior. I cry out loud for freedom and tolerance.

I do!!!! in pink

In the 21st century, several nations around the world cry out for tolerance and the creation of legal spaces to ensure the "inclusion" of minorities, thus ending the possibility that at least in the legal framework the existance of second-class citizens.

When I heard what happened during last month in Choroní, Aragua state, where a group of gay men were attacked by representatives of a local community council, in addition with intimidation and coercion by the state police, the news made me feel angry and excluded from the social fabric called Venezuela.

The struggle for gender rights and sexual orientation are culturally linked in Latin American societies by the ghost of the "machismo", monstrosity of a social nature that deprives of any leading role to all those people who do not possess a male reproductive organ or do not use it, for the systematic destruction of illusions to their female peers while mating.

Among the reasons for the Aragua police to intimidate and suppress the rights of the homosexuals who were vacationing at the resort, were indecency in public places and raising the rainbow flag with the word "peace" written in it. Both arguments seemed absurd as grounds to proceed.

The meaning of the rainbow flag used by the gay movement in favor of equal rights, comes from respect and love to diversity as source of inspiration to a more tolerant society. Value that has been echoed during the civil rights struggle of the african-american community, as well as the battle of feminism to occupy political spaces that rightfully belong to it. 

Venezuela's future should be built on solid foundations with tolerance and diversity as cornerstone values and let morality being dictated by the individual conscience of each of us. Vindications in the field of equal rights by nations like Argentina and Uruguay in the discussion of defining marriage, are examples to follow if you really believe in a better “inclusive” world.