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By Pilar Salazar, from Guatemala City

Ángel Antonio Medina was murdered on the night of August 19. He was 29 years old and a native of the San Pablo neighborhood in the municipality of San Pedro Pinula, in the Department of Jalapa (located 96 kilometers from Guatemala City). His body was found in the same municipality at 10 p.m. He was lying on his motorcycle on the side of the road, with several gunshot wounds that caused his death.

Angel, diversity leader

Ángel was an employee of the municipality of San Pedro Pinula and was responsible for delivering humanitarian aid to low-income individuals. He was also a volunteer with the organization Diversidad Jalapaneca, according to sources within the organization who spoke to this news outlet. Ángel had not received any death threats before, and none of his belongings were missing from the crime scene, leading authorities to presume it was a targeted attack. 

Ángel was a young gay leader in his community and represented the organization in other municipalities of Jalapa, recounts Cristian Hernández, the director of Diversidad Jalapaneca. This year, two complaints were filed in that municipality, both for cyber harassment, but they were not followed up on. “Morality and machismo still prevent many LGBTQ+ people from living freely, so most don't reveal their sexual orientation. Through face-to-face conversations, we have reached out to many people who fear discrimination.” 

LGBTIQ+ organizations demand justice

The National Diversity Network and the Observatory for Violent Deaths called for justice in a statement: “We demand that the authorities responsible for security and justice comply with due process to clarify the facts and capture and punish those responsible. We continue… Until equality is the norm!” 

From the Office of the Ombudsman for Sexual Diversity, Henry España confirmed, with information from the Observatory of Violent Deaths Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity of the National Network for Sexual Diversity and the Lambda Association, the violent death by firearm of Ángel Antonio Medina in San Pedro Pinula. “So far, there have been no arrests. The Public Prosecutor's Office must investigate these deaths ex officio . And it is crucial that the Human Rights Ombudsman's Office and its departmental branch monitor the progress of the investigations.”

Between January and August, there were at least 12 hate crimes in Guatemala: 9 occurred during the Covid-19 pandemic. This year, the Public Prosecutor's Office received 59 reports of crimes against LGBTQ+ individuals between January and July. Of these, 46 were concentrated in the capital city.

The State must implement the recommendations

Dorotea Gómez, from the Human Rights Ombudsman's Office, recently stated that all people deserve respect, attention, and the right to have their complaints received. She acknowledged some progress, but noted that complaints from the LGBTQ+ community remain segregated within the justice system.

“ Fundamentalist ideologies put the LGBTIQ community at risk. We need state institutions to implement the recommendations made (Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women), she recently stated in a virtual forum. She also reminded the public that complaints can be filed via email at denuncias@pdh.org.gt, the address of the Human Rights Ombudsman's Office.

The Jalapa Diversity Organization shares its social media networks for diverse individuals living in the Department of Jalapa who require support or guidance. They can be contacted via email at dijalplgbti@gmail.com or by phone at +502 49731411. Via Facebook