Breaking news [UPDATED December 2 at 2:26 PM] Jonathan Uriel Castellari, 25, went dancing last night at a club in Palermo, Buenos Aires, with his teammate Sebastián Sierra from Ciervos Pampas, the rugby team that fights against homophobia. Afterward, they went to have breakfast at the McDonald's on Avenida Córdoba 3188, and while they were waiting for their food, a group of seven young men between 20 and 25 years old entered the restaurant. According to Sebastián, speaking to Presentes, the young men stared at them and made jokes among themselves. "They were tall, burly, and quite macho," he says. At one point, Jonathan went outside for a cigarette, and one of them followed him, hugged him, and said something to him. "I saw from inside that something was happening, and when I went outside, the rest of the group came out and started hitting him, calling him a faggot, and hurling a bunch of homophobic insults. I tried to defend him, but I couldn't; then they let him go," Sebastián recounts through tears. At the McDonald's, there was a nurse from Güemes Hospital (located just a few meters away) who gave Jonathan first aid. He is now hospitalized while they run tests. "He's in pain, a lot of pain, and the pain isn't just from the blows. We need this to be publicized as much as possible; this can't keep happening," Sebastián told Presentes. Once Jonathan is discharged, they will file the required police and legal reports. "We have the nurse as a witness," he added.

Complaints in process

María Rachid, head of the Institute Against Discrimination at the Ombudsman's Office of the City of Buenos Aires and Secretary General of the FALGBT (Argentine Federation of Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals, and Transgender People) told Presentes that she met with Sebastián, the Ciervos Pampas team, and Jonathan and his family yesterday. Rachid explained that the Ombudsman's Office received the complaint and filed it with INADI (National Institute Against Discrimination, Xenophobia and Racism). A formal complaint was also drafted to be filed with the criminal court on Monday. "We will be filing as plaintiffs as the Federation (FALGBT) and the Ombudsman's Office of the City of Buenos Aires," said Rachid, who also contacted the Minister of Security of the City of Buenos Aires, Martín Ocampo. "We asked him to request and locate the security camera footage from the area and obtain the images from when the incident occurred. He committed to doing everything possible to provide it to the court," María Rachid told this publication. He also explained that Ocampo pledged to investigate why the police did not respond to calls made by McDonald's staff, the Güemes sanatorium, and the victim's colleagues.

"Just like on the court"

Tonight, Ciervos Pampas had planned a cultural festival in the Feliza spaceJonathan is part of the organizing committee for this event. "We concluded that canceling it would be a victory for homophobia. So, just like on the field, we're going to contribute to fulfilling our dream of a diverse society where there is respect for others, by making ourselves visible," they stated. Meanwhile, Jonathan Castellari remains hospitalized. His teammates say he is waiting for the swelling in his right eye to subside so he can undergo surgery. This Saturday, December 2nd, at 8 PM, the Ciervos Pampas club is also calling for a protest demonstration. ]]>