By Lorena Panzerini, from Rosario. Photos: Facebook. Marcelo Giudici was a renowned local stylist, hairdresser trainer, LGBT activist, and artist known for his drag persona, “La Faraona.” On the night of Thursday, July 4, at the age of 61, he was found dead inside his salon in downtown Rosario, in the southern part of Santa Fe province. He was covered in blood and bound hand and foot with cables. The autopsy revealed a significant blow to the head and that he had been asphyxiated. Despite the brutality of the crime—a characteristic of hate crimes—the most concrete line of inquiry in the judicial investigation is currently focused on robbery. Statements from acquaintances indicate that he had no problems with anyone,” the Public Prosecutor's Office stated regarding the suspected motive, although other possibilities have not been ruled out. For the province's Undersecretary of Sexual Diversity, Esteban Paulón, "there is no doubt that this robbery was a hate crime." The violence and brutality with which Marcelo was attacked left their mark on his half-naked body, lying behind a piece of furniture on the floor of the shop at 805 San Juan Street. He was found after a 911 call. The Prosecutor's Office met with relatives and confirmed that the investigation is active to find the perpetrator(s), but warned Presentes that progress cannot be made public at this time to protect the investigation. The crime was committed in his home, behind the white facade of the old house, with tall doors and the initials MG above them. The barbershop operated in the living room. At 11:05 p.m. on July 4, Emanuel A.'s call came into the 911 emergency service. The 22-year-old had been in a relationship with the victim until last January, but continued to visit his home, according to Noelia Castellani, a friend of the hairdresser. In the call, the young man said he had rung the doorbell several times, but Marcelo didn't answer. In the first hours after the incident, Homicide Prosecutor Miguel Moreno detained the young man, but released him the following morning. So far, there is a veil of secrecy surrounding the case, and the Prosecutor's Office believes that providing details would pose a risk to the investigation. Noelia suggested that it was a robbery committed by someone Marcelo apparently let in or knew. This theory is based on the fact that there were no signs of forced entry. In the hair salon, one door led to the laundry area and the rest of the house. “Everything was a mess. Two LCD TVs, a computer, hairdressing supplies, and several pairs of sneakers were missing,” said Noelia, who had known Marcelo for 17 years. “I started working with him when I was 15; now I’m 32. My family was like his. Everyone loved him,” she said. Still shaken, she described the victim as a “wonderful, hardworking person, always with projects, and someone who lent a hand to people with limited resources, to everyone.” She remembers him calling her “the corner of light,” because he always wanted to help everyone. Security cameras on the block reportedly captured a motorcycle leaving the scene the night of the incident. Noelia believes more than one person was involved. “He had incredible strength. From what I saw at the scene, I think they fought hard.” *** Against a background of multicolored waves, Marcelo wrote his last post on Facebook: “To all the people who crossed my path and respected my choice, thank you.” She posted it on June 28th, Pride Day. Yesterday, her words had garnered hundreds of comments wishing him peace and calling for justice. Noelia recalled that Marcelo's gay activism began in difficult times, when the LGBTQ+ community "suffered persecution" and society was different. "My dad had a bar on Maipú Street years ago, where people from the LGBTQ+ community used to go, and he already knew Marcelo from seeing him there," she said. She also remembered that about two decades ago, Marcelo joined "Las Españolas," a group of five drag performers. It was there that his character La Faraona was born. "He was very cultured, a true artist. He always said that the stage was the only place where nothing hurt," she recalled. The stages of Rosario, as well as those of Córdoba and Mar del Plata, bore witness to this during his peak seasons. "He went wherever he was called," his friend said. Paulón added that Giudici "was a very well-known and beloved member of the LGBTQ+ community." According to some photos on her Facebook profile, she associated with local television personalities and models. "We understand there was malice involved, and we want to know what that has to do with. There are also factors that increase the vulnerability of a person of that age, often stemming from loneliness and other circumstances," she said.

Context

In the city of Rosario, there have already been other incidents with similar characteristics. In November of last year, José Alberto Benítez was murdered in his home in La Florida. The 37-year-old hairdresser was found with his hands tied and strangled. According to the charges against a 24-year-old man, it was in the context of a robbery. In 2016, Santiago Mercasin was found dead in his home at 1850 Jujuy Street. The actor and theater director was 54 years old. He was found half-naked, face down, and badly beaten. "Let's all make sure Marcelo is remembered in the city"; "It's lamentable that so many men end up like this just because of their sexuality. Too much violence," some of his friends expressed. For them, the savage attack suffered by the victim shows that this was not just another crime. And they demand that the justice system provide answers.