Gay beauty contest winner murdered
LGBT activists in Brazil have spoken about the high levels of homophobia in their society in the wake of the brutal sexual assault and murder of a gay teenager.
Osvan Inacio dos Santos, 19, was attacked in a street near a bar where he had just won the local “Miss Gay” competition.
The attack and murder, in the town of Batingas in northeast Brazil, is just one high-profile example of the problems the LGBT community face in the country, which is often viewed as liberal in matters of sexuality.
Mr dos Santos’ naked body was found on Sunday morning and forensic examination found his skull had been fractured and indicated sexual assault.
Gay rights groups in the area have asked that the attorney general’s office supervise the police investigation.
Tedy Marques, president of the Alagoas Gay Group, told EFE news agency:
“Homophobia is one of the worst problems Brazil faces. It is unacceptable that every other day in our country a homosexual is brutally murdered.”
