Homophobic Attackers in Madrid Carve Antigay Slur Into Victim's Butt

A protest is planned for Saturday in response to this and other recent anti-LGBTQ+ crimes.

Trudy Ring

Trudy Ring is The Advocate’s senior politics editor and copy chief. She has been a reporter and editor for daily newspapers and LGBTQ+ weeklies/monthlies, trade magazines, and reference books. She is a political junkie who thinks even the wonkiest details are fascinating, and she always loves to see political candidates who are groundbreaking in some way. She enjoys writing about other topics as well, including religion (she’s interested in what people believe and why), literature, theater, and film. Trudy is a proud “old movie weirdo” and loves the Hollywood films of the 1930s and ’40s above all others. Other interests include classic rock music (Bruce Springsteen rules!) and history. Oh, and she was a Jeopardy! contestant back in 1998 and won two games. Not up there with Amy Schneider, but Trudy still takes pride in this achievement.

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Trudy Ring

September 07 2021 1:17 PM EST

May 31 2023 4:35 PM EST

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Police in Madrid are investigating a homophobic assault on a man who says eight people attacked him in the doorway of his home, cut his lip with a razor, and carved the word "f****t" into his buttock.

The attack occurred around 5 p.m. Sunday in the center of the city, Spanish-language outlet El Diario reports. The hooded assailants also called the 20-year-old victim "disgusting," "shit eater," and more, and one even referred to the Antichrist. A special unit focused on terrorism has joined local police in the investigation.

The crime follows the killing of gay man Samuel Luiz in the city of A Coruna in northwestern Spain. Luiz was beaten by a mob of people outside a nightclub in July, and he died of his injuries at a hospital shortly after the assault. Three people have been arrested. There have been other homophobic attacks in the country recently as well.

Spanish leaders have condemned the rash of anti-LGBTQ+ violence. "Hate has no place in our society," President Pedro Sanchez tweeted. Madrid Mayor Jose Luis Martinez-Almeida said the city must be free of "homophobic, sexist violence." Sanchez will preside over a meeting of a national commission on hate crimes Friday. Officials have said the circulation of anti-LGBTQ+ messages on social media may have played a role in the recent attacks.