A young gay man was murdered: it is being denounced as a hate crime.

Felipe Olguín Gómez, 19, was murdered last Tuesday by a man at a bus stop near his home in the Puente Alto district, after receiving threats and insults because of his sexual orientation, according to a report filed with the Movement for Homosexual Integration and Liberation of Chile (Movilh). The young man, who lived…

September 3, 2018

Felipe Olguín Gómez, 19, was murdered last Tuesday by a man at a bus stop near his home in the Puente Alto district, after receiving threats and insults because of his sexual orientation, family and friends reported to the Movement for Homosexual Integration and Liberation of Chile (Movilh).

The young man, who lived with his partner, was called "faggot" and "sissy" at different times by the perpetrator, said his mother Rosa Gómez.

According to witnesses who spoke to Movilh, last Tuesday, amid insults about his sexual orientation, the men stabbed Felipe.

“It was a homophobic and malicious act. He had already received threats and been mocked for being gay,” said one of his friends.

In front of about one hundred people, the young man was laid to rest on Thursday the 30th at the Sacramental Cemetery of Bernardo, carrying a rainbow flag on his coffin, while a floral arrangement pointed to "Jordan and Felipe", referring to his partner.

Legal measures

“We express our deepest condolences to the friends and family of Felipe, a young man who, everyone agrees, never harmed anyone, but suffered ridicule, bullying, and harassment for much of his life simply because of his sexual orientation. We are deeply shocked that these atrocities, which violate the most basic human right—the right to life—continue to occur in Chile,” stated Gonzalo Velásquez, president of MOVILH, after attending the funeral. MOVILH added that in the coming days, “we will advise the family on pursuing all necessary legal actions to uncover the truth and punish those responsible, applying the Zamudio Law as an aggravating circumstance.”

“There is immense pain among the family and friends. Only justice can begin to alleviate this suffering. We call on society not to be indifferent to these types of crimes, to be more empathetic and show solidarity. Hate crimes deserve the most complete and widespread condemnation,” concluded Movilh.

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