LGBTQ+ rights activists are raising their voices in a call for justice following the controversial detention of 33 men at a sauna in Valencia, the third largest city in Venezuela. The incident unfolded on July 23 at the Avalon Club, a popular LGBTQ+ community establishment. Outrage swiftly ensued, manifesting in protests both in Valencia and the nation’s capital, Caracas, as demonstrators demanded the release of the detained individuals.
The arrests have elicited significant condemnation, with nearly 10,000 signatories endorsing a petition initiated by the Venezuelan Observatory of LGBTIQ+ Violence. The petition seeks a fair trial for the detained men, who are facing charges ranging from outrage against modesty to conspiracy and noise pollution. Sharing their indignation and updates, social media users have rallied around the hashtag #JusticiaParaLos33 (#JusticeForThe33).
As reported by Al Jazeera, a majority of the detained men were released on “conditional parole” after 72 hours of custody, requiring periodic reporting to authorities. The remaining three, including the owner of Avalon Club, were freed on August 3, a full 10 days after their initial arrest. However, the circumstances surrounding their apprehension remain unsettling; two detainees recounted their disbelief upon arrest, initially mistaking the police action for a routine inspection.
These events have shed light on the challenges faced by the LGBTQ+ community in Venezuela. While being gay is not a criminal offense, discrimination persists, and legal protections for LGBTQ+ individuals are not on par with those for their heterosexual counterparts. The incident underscores the broader issue of state-sponsored homophobia, and activists are calling for a transparent trial devoid of prejudice, as well as accountability for those responsible.
Yendri Velásquez, a Venezuelan LGBTQ+ activist, emphasized the necessity of public pressure to access justice. She highlighted that the incident reflects a heightened level of criminalization targeting LGBTQ+ individuals, while Jau Ramírez, from the movement SOMOS advocating for LGBTQ+ rights, noted that the case sets a concerning legal precedent. Ramírez stressed that this crackdown threatens fundamental rights and personal freedoms for all in Venezuela.
In a country where LGBTQ+ rights remain a contested arena, the plight of these detained men echoes the broader struggle for equality and justice for all sexual orientations and gender identities.
