Human Rights

Interior Minister to meet with MHOL members following police attacks on gays, lesbians

Interior Minister Miguel Hidalgo will meet Wednesday with representatives from the Homosexual Movement in Lima (MHOL), following police attacks on gay and lesbians activits last Saturday.

The meeting is intended to inform MHOL of the actions the ministry is taking following charges levied at Peru’s National Police of excessive force, state news agency Andina reported.

“The Interior [Ministry] and National Police are clear and firm in their respect for laws and legislation that regulate their actions, in the framework of respecting the human rights of all people, with no distinction of their creed, social condition or sexual orientation,” Hidalgo said.

A member of MHOL video-taped Peruvian police abuse against a group of 15 gay and lesbian couples kissing in front of Lima’s Cathedral on Saturday during an event called “Kisses against Homophobia.”

“A group of police came up to them and without saying a word began to push the participants in the event to remove them from there and they continued hitting them with sticks and shields in the Plaza de Armas and its surroundings, including chasing them into stores, cafes and an art gallery,” an MHOL member reported to daily La Republica.

The MHOL members were heard protesting in the video saying, “I’m not a criminal, I’m just homosexual.”

Lima’s mayor, Susana Villarán, criticized the police aggression and announced that a bylaw will be issued against discrimination of sexual orientation. City security personnel will also receive training in civil and human rights.

However, Villarán also reminded the public that the city’s main square is off limits to all protests or activist events. “Men, women, people with non-heterosexual orientation can express their affection but always with respect to public opinion and to restricted spaces such as the Plaza de Armas, the Cathedral and the Government Palace.”

2 Comments

  1. Tom Henricksen

    Is it OK to walk nude in the Plaza de Armas? I do not want to be discriminated against.

  2. In Canada there is a lot of gay people? Police,Army,Firemen,hospital if a officer ever did that to gay people the country would shut down.

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