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“ATTENTION – CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE DUE TO THEFT,” reads the message posted on social media by the organizers of the LGBTQ+ space La Frida in Córdoba, after they encountered a repeated and worsened scene on Monday morning. Upon arriving at 9 a.m. at the house located at 1251 Cerrito Street in the San Martín neighborhood, they found a door panel torn off the entrance gate. Inside, there was looting and vandalism: seven doors were missing, along with all the bathroom fixtures, a mattress, a video screen, a home theater , and other items necessary for the space to function.

Opened in July 2018, La Frida has become a hub for the LGBTQ+ community in Córdoba. It hosts artistic events, discussions, workshops, and informational sessions related to the three core themes that define the space: sexual diversity and dissidence, gender, and HIV. Since last year, in response to the crisis in public health services and the shortage of medications, rapid HIV testing has also been offered.

“They want to kick us out of the neighborhood”

Sunday's robbery was the fourth the house has suffered in less than six months. In the previous incidents, computers, sound equipment, and clothing were stolen. This time, in addition to the scale of the theft, there was also vandalism. “We found ourselves with nothing. For the moment, we have to close indefinitely,” Emanuel Muñoz, one of the space's coordinators, told Presentes . Emanuel doesn't believe the looting was motivated solely by material gain: “There's more to this than just theft; there's a viciousness behind it. The fact that they've broken into us four times is because they also want to silence us and drive us out of the neighborhood. There's a hateful attitude toward the LGBTQ+ community at play here.”

The incident highlights the vulnerability of LGBTQ+ spaces in Córdoba, which are exposed to discriminatory, homophobic, and lesbophobic violence that often goes unpunished. For example, in May 2018, a rugby player, accompanied by a group of friends, insulted, threatened, and assaulted the owner of Casa Warhol bar in the Alta Córdoba neighborhood.

READ MORE https://agenciapresentes.org/2018/05/09/cordoba-un-rugbier-insulto-y-golpeo-a-la-duena-de-un-bar-lgbti/

“We will be back soon, and stronger than ever.”

The complaint regarding the looting of La Frida was filed with Judicial Unit No. 15 in the city of Córdoba. The team's statement reads: “These acts of extreme violence against spaces for and by diversity only serve to demonstrate what we suffer daily. The San Martín neighborhood, home to thousands of recreational, educational, and activity spaces; with its history of gay men, lesbians, trans people, and transvestites; with its eternal struggle to achieve spaces free from violence where we can meet, embrace, and support each other. Today, it is once again the turn of the diverse and dissident communities to be attacked and violated with these acts.”

However, what happened “will not make us give up, and we will soon be back in action, stronger than ever. We appreciate the publicity and hope for a prompt response from the police authorities to find those responsible for these acts of vandalism.” “Our decision to resist is a political stance, and that is why we have held out until now,” says Emanuel. He also points out that “several people have already offered to help get the house up and running again,” and that they will be organizing a volunteer work day in the coming days. 

In addition, they enabled an account for donations (CVU: 0000003100050687791573 – Alias: ESPACIO.LA.FRIDA) and links to contribute different amounts: http://mpago.la/1C4Zu5 ($100), http://mpago.la/1LA3Hc ($500), http://mpago.la/3RVChk ($1000).