Lesbian arrested and beaten for kissing his wife: police must be held accountable
Mariana Solange Gómez was kissing her wife, Rocío Girat, near the Constitución subway station on Line C. Suddenly, Mariana was arrested by the Buenos Aires City Police.
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Once again we've taken to the streets, once again the police are trying to suppress our dissent. Enough with the lesbophobia! pic.twitter.com/Ax6wPRcpUq
— Lesbian Assembly (@AsambleaLesbica) October 2, 2017 Mariana and Rocío are married. Rocío is the daughter of naval petty officer Marcelo Girat, and in 2011 she reported her father to the authorities for abusing her during her adolescence, both at home and at the Naval Base.Mariana is openly lesbian, and the groups believe that the police procedure is related to this fact. The incident occurs amidst escalating violence by the Buenos Aires City Police against lesbian women.The lives of those of us who were abused are a constant cycle: like Mariana and Rocío, first abused in their homes and yesterday, by the police. https://t.co/8WibfJUpwq
— Franco Torchia (@francotorchia_) October 3, 2017
Kissing in public is not illegal, a lawyer explained to Presentes. “If the police stop you and you resist, you are exercising a right; it is not resisting authority because there is no reason for the police to arrest you. Trans women, street vendors, and Senegalese migrants are accustomed to these practices.” Another argument used for the arrest was that they were smoking in a prohibited area. “Several people were there smoking, but they weren’t arrested,” Mariana and Rocío told Presentes. This year there have already been at least three raids against lesbians, not counting instances of police violence against trans women. The one on March 7, the one on March 8 (International Women's March and Strike #8M) and the march demanding the release of Jones Huala (where lesbians and trans men were arrested). There are also complaints filed with PROCUVIN regarding other incidents based on sexual orientation.Mariana is now free. STOP POLICE REPRESSION AND LESBIAN HATE! We want to be alive, free, and visible!!! pic.twitter.com/ypvJircd3b
— MaríaGuerreroMenéndz (@mariaaagm) October 3, 2017
[READ MORE: Lesbian activists arrested ahead of #NiUnaMenos, closer to going to trial]
The videos show that the two lesbians were unable to resist arrest by armed police who called for backup. "They were framed and physically abused. It was a violent arrest," said a source close to the investigation. A case of unlawful coercion is now underway regarding Mariana's detention. And organizations are calling for a kiss-in protest this Friday.[READ MORE: Lesbian Visibility Day, against violence ]
"The feminist struggle freed my daughter"
Celeste, Mariana's mother, expressed her gratitude in a statement: “I am deeply grateful to all the people who came to support my daughter yesterday. She was arbitrarily detained by Jonatan Rojo and Karen Villarroel, police officers from the Metropolitan Police of the City Government. After being beaten, handcuffed, and held in a common cell for 7 hours, she was released at 9 pm thanks to feminist resistance. On Wednesday, October 4th, we must be at Lavalle 1171 (corner of Libertad) in Buenos Aires at 9 am to find out what happens next.” Court No. 45 is presided over by María Dolores Fontbona De Pombo. She is the judge who in 1999 acquitted Raúl Guglielminetti —a former intelligence agent, fugitive, and arrested by Interpol in 2003— in a long-running case for illicit enrichment. Yesterday, several lawyers went to the police station. Among them was a lawyer from the LGBT Defense Office. “I spoke with them today, and we’re going to accompany them to court tomorrow to testify. Meanwhile, we’ve opened an official investigation at the City’s Institute Against Discrimination, under the Ombudsman’s Office,” she told Presents María Rachid, Mariana's mother, asked organizations and anyone who wants to join them to do so tomorrow. "The feminist struggle freed my daughter, and we know that social pressure is very effective. I embrace you all, comrades! Spread the word as much as possible, everyone!" [READ MORE: There's a lesbian in my campaign for legal abortion ] [READ MORE: Nobody mentions that the women arrested in #NiUnaMenos are lesbians ] VIDEO: Franco Torchia interviews Mariana and Rocío. Both suffered abuse in their families. ]]>We are Present
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My big question is whether they were smoking in a prohibited area? Because if it was for kissing, why was only one of them imprisoned? I support all causes that defend equality for all citizens, including LGBT rights, but I wouldn't want to be misled. I'm against all violence used against them; that's unacceptable. But in the video, Mariana's partner said it was simply for smoking at the station… If that's the case, then I defend the right of non-smokers, which may seem insignificant to some, but anyone who has had cancer and whose stomach is made to vomit by the smell knows what I'm talking about.